Monday morning was a little more than awkward. I skirted the halls, running from class to class. Avoidance is my favorite way to approach conflict. Is conflict the right word for the whole situation? Not sure. Kyoya caught up to me first.

"What are you doing?" he said while I was hiding out in the library.

I look up from my book quickly. "What do you mean? We're in a library, and libraries have books. I'm holding one right now. Therefore, I'm in a library, and I'm reading."

He stares at me, unamused. "Shut up. You're rambling, Haruhi. You know that I know."

Eyes wide, I whisper, "You know?"

"Practically everyone knows. It's not everyday a third year, especially one as -erm- unattainable- as Mori-senpai, is rumored to have romantic feelings for someone like you."

"Gee, thanks, senpai."

He adjusts his glasses and shrugs. "No offense, of course. It's quite childish that you're hiding from your problems. You'd best talk him, especially before Tamaki finds you. I'm not sure how he'll take it. You know, with the whole loving you thing. Then again, our king does love a classic romantic drama." He pauses for a moment, then a grin spreads across his face. He pulls out his little black notebook and scribbles something down. "Everyone loves a good love triangle. Remind me to release new merchandise for the clients."

I roll my eyes. I tell him how typical and insensitive he's being. When he shrugs, my eyes can't help but roll to the back of my head again.

"Well, I suggest you'd either duck into those nearby shelves stocked with fantasy novels, or grow a pair. He found you. Tag, you're it." Kyoya smiles, amused, then walks away.

My mind instantly goes for the first option, but by the time I shoot straight up out of my chair, it's too late.

"Hey, Haruhi."

Shoot. Almost made it. I wince and scrunch up my face in defeat. As I stand up from my crouching position, I say as nonchalantly as possible, "Good morning, Mori-senpai."

"Are you avoiding me?"

"What? Me? Avoiding you? You're so funny! Why would I? Who's avoiding who? Definitely not me. To you, I mean. I'm not avoiding you." I mentally kick myself for the awkward response.

He bears a look of amusement. "You're rambling, Haruhi."

There he goes, dropping my name again. It sends an electric jolt down my spine. "That's the second time someone's told me that today."

"Well, you are. It's kind of endearing."

I scoff. "More like embarrassing. Maybe I should take a tip from you, and stay silent."

Mori-senpai takes a small step towards me, and I take one big one backwards defensively. Soon, there are no more steps to take because my back is pressed against the shelves marked "Fantasy" and my heart is racing and my skin feels hot and my face begins to flush. "This is a disaster," I whisper. He's staring at me with an intensity that I cannot reciprocate, so my eyes instantly drop to my feet.

He hovers over me, one arm rested on the books and the other at his side. "Really?" he says, voice low. When his other arm suddenly snakes around my waist and draws me in closer, I gasp and hold in my breath. He stares at me with piercing grey eyes and grins as he lowers down to meet my face. There's about two inches between us, and my nose is greeted by the familiar scents of mint and aftershave.

"Because I think it's quite fun."