Before I Loved You

Chapter Seven

Hikaru's POV

Glancing out of the corner of my eye I quickly turned my head away from Haruhi as she looked in my direction again. Crap. That was what, the third time that I hadn't even realized that I was staring at her. What was wrong with me? Actually, I knew what was wrong. Drowning out the teacher's voice I felt my cheeks flush about what had occurred at the dance.

I was turning my head towards Kaoru's camera when I felt a push from behind and then I felt Haruhi's cool lips on mine. When I had realized what had happened I jerked my body away from her as I felt the blush race across my face in record time. Then, I felt how hard my heart was pounding. It was completely unnatural and weird. I mean, I wasn't running and I wasn't doing anything strenuous. After we had dropped Haruhi off at her house after the dance (which might I say was quite a bit awkward) I asked Kaoru about it. Yeah, all I got in response was a grin, a chuckle, and then a "You'll figure out soon enough." followed by a remotely evil laugh. Honestly, I couldn't get it out of my head. The same scene kept on replaying over and over and over in my head.

"Argh, GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" I yelled as I grabbed the sides of my head in frustration. Then, I heard a cough to the side of me from Haruhi and then I heard a snort leave Kaoru's mouth. Right. School. I kept my head down for the rest of the class period and even paid attention…a little. But even that small bit of dedication deserves a round of applause. Go me.

As we continued on to our next class I once again listed the possibilities of why I had felt so weird.

1. Maybe I was excited over getting my picture taken. Wait, I wasn't that shallow. I mean, sure, I cared about how I looked but…okay off topic.

2. I was surprised about being pushed. Yeah right. There wasn't much I could be surprised by. I mean, me and Kaoru had probably pulled all of the surprise pranks in the world. Plus, it was Tono.

3. Um, I don't know.

See, I would always get to number two and then stop. As I wasn't one to keep secrets from my twin I kept on bugging him about this. Yet again I would just get a knowing look. I was beginning to feel like an idiot. I have a plan, I'll just drop the subject entirely. Ha, I win Kaoru. Then, I got a little image of Kaoru popping up in my head saying, "You know if you drop something it's just going to come back and bite you in the butt!" Ugh, shut up.

"…amusement park for Halloween?" asked Haruhi.

Blinking I tried to remember anything that she had said before. Dang it. No recollection. Darn you daydreams. Looking around for Kaoru's helpful hints I found no pair of golden eyes to take a hint from. Dang. "What?" I finally blurted out. Aren't I just the smoothest person?

Sighing Haruhi rolled her eyes and asked, "Do you and Kaoru want to come to the amusement park with me on Friday for Halloween?"

Grinning I responded, "Of course."

Come to think of it Haruhi wasn't like most girls. If she was I would probably not have been her friend. Except she was poor so she already wasn't like most other girls. Er, a commoner. Ugh. Tono was getting to me. For example, there was this one time where a bug was crawling across Haruhi's desk and I watched as she just picked the thing up, opened up a window, shut it, and walk over to her desk like nothing had happened. She stared at me as my mouth opened slightly.

"What have you never seen a bug before or something?" she asked as she settled into her desk and started to pull out her notes from yesterday.

"No, it's just that, well…" and then I gestured to her desk. Yup, Mr. Smooth makes a reoccurrence with his sidekick Vague Boy.

Finishing up for me Kaoru said, "Well, it's just that girls here don't normally do…well, that." And then he gestured to the rest of our classmates as the turned around like they weren't staring at Haruhi.

That's what it was. She wasn't scared of what most girls usually were. Tomorrow would be Operation Find Out What Haruhi is Scared Of.

"Tell Kaoru, okay?" she said as she walked off to her next class. Ugh, I hated History. Partially because I didn't have anyone in there with me. Who am I kidding it was because I didn't have Haruhi or Kaoru in there with me.

I won't lie and say that I paid attention in class. I didn't even try to do that. In fact, I spent the last period of the day sketching some dresses in my spiral along with wondering about what Haruhi was scared of. And voila! There was my plan for getting that…moment out of my head. Friday would be Operation Find Out What Haruhi is Scared of Day. Or OFOWHSD. Ofowahsd. Not quite as catchy as I thought it would be, but no matter, it was the thought that counted.

And so the day went on until Friday afternoon in which I had already planned out what I was going to test her sacredness level on. That is until I saw that stupid blonde idiot with his usual gang of friend. Okay so here's how I thought of them:

Kyoya – The real mastermind behind anything they do.

Tamaki – The idiot (You can't deny that if he were in as espionage spy mission he would be the distraction. Sacrifices have to be made for success. Too bad, right?)

Hunny – Um, how about the Lolita boy that somehow never ever gets cavities.

Mori – The typical dark knight of the group. Also, known as Hunny's bodyguard.

And yes, this group of mismatched rich boys were standing right in front of the gates on our Halloween play date. Ours being me, Kaoru, and Haruhi. As I stepped out of the limo I saw a bunch of people turn towards me and stare. Why would they…oh that's right. This was a commoner's amusement park. Gotcha.

As Kaoru and Haruhi were also stepping out I was trample by a certain blonde someone demanding to know why he wasn't invited to this night of "fun and games" as he called it. Tugging down my vest and t-shirt that matched with Kaoru's I turned away from him as I muttered, "Because I don't like you." But wait, how did he get here? Spinning around I turned to glare at Kaoru who sheepishly grinned at me. Spinning around I grabbed Haruhi by her faded commoner's t-shirt and headed towards the entrance.

"The more the merrier?" he said.

Maybe, but not when his name is Tamaki with his laptop wielding, cake eating, bodyguard like friends. Whatever. I'll deal. As long as my plan goes smoothly. I beckoned the two accepted others towards me and handed the tickets over to the guard and walked inside. I heard Tamaki yelling about how he should get a ticket since there was such a short line, but honestly and truthfully, what did I care?

I heard Haruhi sigh and then turn back towards the group but still continue to follow me. I followed this stupid not very detailed commoner's map towards the first stop...the spooky maze.

Yeah, that didn't really work out considering she found her way out about 15 minutes before me and Kaoru. That's right. She left us. But no matter, I was going to move onto the next one on my list.

Heights. The coaster that I chose was the highest one in the park with a practically vertical drop. Once again no reaction. Just some smiles and another picture bought (two of them, one for me and Kaoru and one for her) and some suspiciously familiar blubbering in the car behind us.

This was so not working. Was she even scared of anything? Maybe she was like some almighty power that was afraid of nothing. Isn't my logic just amazing?

I weaved through the crowds back to the table and handed off two of the three ice creams cones that I had just bought.

"My treat." I said as I sat down. As I bit into my cone I heard something in the distance. Thunder, maybe? Oh well, there were plenty enough restaurants to give us shelter. As I started to think of all the things that I could test my Haruhi is an almighty person plan I heard her shift in her seat uncomfortably.

Cocking an eyebrow at her I started to feel small raindrops pelt my hair and start to soak through my vest. And then, I grabbed Haruhi and Kaoru and joined the crowd of people running through the park trying to get to cover. Then, I felt the pressure on my left hand slip and I saw Kaoru being swept away by the crowds. Smiling, he gave me a thumbs up. What the heck? But honestly, there was no time to worry about that when a small brown haired girl is tugging at your hand trying to make you let go and run off into the crowds of people without you.

"Haruhi, what's wrong? We have to go find Kaoru, come on!" I shouted over the rain that was coming down hard now.

Shaking her head she started to tug at my hand again. What had gotten into her? This normally calm girl was the one being crazy for once. Why?

As the thunder rang overhead I heard her cringe and her eyes that were normally so indifferent showed a flash of fear, if only for a second. Then, I understood. Thunder.

Pulling her along with me I started to head to the nearest building which turned out to be the haunted house. I pushed her inside the entrance before me as I felt the cool air-conditioning blow against my skin. I then sat Haruhi down and whipped out my ipod and stuck the earbuds in her ears. Then, I sat down beside her and pulled her head down onto my shoulder. First, I felt her tense up, but as I started to stroke her hair I felt her calm down and eventually close her eyes and relax against me. As the thunder started to flash again I felt Haruhi shiver against me as the haunted house lit up from…lightning? If it was it sounded surprisingly like a camera flash. Whatever.

Still stroking her hair I laid my head down on hers so that I could close my eyes too. I was hit by a fruity smell…like artificial strawberries. Like the ones in the cheap shampoos. And it smelled…good. Jerking my head up I sat up straight and rigid while mentally scolding myself.

What are you doing? Smelling her hair? What are you, a creeper now like Tono?

Surprised by my actions I felt Haruhi stir from my shoulder. Ah, I shouldn't have jerked my head up.

Blinking her chocolaty eyes at me she popped the earbuds out of her ears and tilted her head as if listening for something. The rain I assumed. As I strained my ears I realized that it had stopped and as she got up and stretched I started to blush as I realized what had just happened. Did I really just drag Haruhi into a dark haunted house and lean her head against my shoulder?

Man, I really was becoming a creeper like Tono. Then, I heard the doors open and I stood up as I saw that annoying pest stride towards me. Better yet I saw Kaoru emerge from behind a gravestone with something in his hand.

Pushing past Tono I ran towards him and hugged him. Wait, but how was he in here? I thought he had gotten separated from me. And why was there a disposable camera in his hands? Weird.

My brotherly moment was soon interrupted by Tono and the rest of his cronies asking me questions. As per usual I ignored most of them except for the girl's.

"Hikaru?" she said, "Thanks." and with that she flashed one of her quick and ever fleeting smiles at me and held out her hand to me.

Grinning I walked over to her and took her hand as I shoved a blonde somebody that was trying to stop me from holding her hand out of the way. And as I took that steady hand inside of my own I felt my heart beat a little faster and as I smiled at her, she smiled back.

-Don't you just LOVE how Hikaru is so dense about some things? I think it's sorta cute. And yes the "lightning" was from the camera Kaoru is holding. Just like in the last chapter he's taking pictures of all of the fluff moments between Hika and Haru. Creeperish but just sincere enough to make it Kaoru. Hope you liked it! Put up review with critiques please!