Takuya lay perfectly still in the grass, his scintillating arms bare. Zoe enjoyed the sun, too, the air was quite dry enough for her taste. She would have liked to lie back, as he did, and let the sun warm her face. But she stayed curled up, her chin resting her knees. Takuya never took his eyes on Zoe. The wind was gentle; it tangled her hair and ruffled the grass that swayed everywhere.

The park, so spectacular to Zoe.

"Why'd you brought me here?" Zoe asked playfully.

"I know you never wanted to be here in the first place, but you gotta see what's down here…what you're missing."

"Tell me what you're thinking," Zoe whispered. She looked to his eyes watching her, suddenly intent. "It's strange you're always thinking."

"A thousand questions about my pass," He said looking away from Zoe. "You can't imagine how that feels." He sighed.

"Sorry," she murmured. "It's too easy to be myself with you."

"You know, the rest of us feel that was all the time."

"It's a hard life." There was regret in her tone. "Hey, I heard you were making a bear."

"Uh…yeah, who told you?"

"Koji." She smiled. "Have you given it to someone already?"

Takuya widened his eyes to Zoe and he could feel his heart racing in his chest, the blood pulsing hot and fast through his veins again. His lungs filled deep with the sweet scent that came off Zoe's skin.

"Nope. Not yet."

"Well, whoever's going to receive the bear will probably love it very much," Zoe encouraged him. "May I ask who are you going to give it to?" Zoe asked, curious.

"Well, it's a person," Of course. "It's a girl," he gulped. "She's very important to my life…she…is…is…"

"I'm sorry!" Zoe interrupted and Takuya was surprised. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't force you to answer that odd question so I'm sorry."

"It's getting late, come on, climb on my back."

Zoe waited to see if he was kidding, but apparently, he meant it. He smiled as he read her hesitation, and reached for her. Their hearts reacted; their pulses gave them away. He then proceeded to sling Zoe onto his back, with a very little effort on her part, besides, when in place, clamping her legs and arms so tightly around him that it would choke a person. It was like clinging to a stone.

"I'm a bit heavier than your average backpack," Zoe warned.

"Hah!" he snorted. He rolled his eyes.

He startled her, suddenly grabbing her hand, pressing her palm to his face, and inhaling deeply.

"Easier all the time," he muttered.

And then he was running.

He streaked through the dark, thick underbrush of the forest. There was a sound.

The cool forest air whipped against her face and burned them.

"Where are we going this time?" Zoe asked.

"We're taking the short cut."

Then it was over. Ina matter of five minutes, they were in front of the 'Shake'.

"Faster, isn't it?" His voice was high, excited.

He stood motionless, waiting for her to climb down. Her arms and legs stayed locked around him.

"Zoe?" he asked, anxious now.

"That was fast," she gasped.

He laughed quietly, and gently unloosed her stranglehold on his neck. Then he pulled her around to face him, cradling her in his arms like a small child. He held her for a moment, then carefully placed her on the ground.

"I had really fun," Zoe said.

"Next time we hang out, we're going to the places anywhere you want."

"Good idea," she mused.

"Remember that next time we hang out each other."

"Cool!"

He laughed, his mood still radiant.

"I was thinking while I was running…" He paused.

"About not hitting the trees, I hope."

"Hah! Now why would I hit a tree?" He chuckled. "Running is second nature to me, it's not something I have to think about." He smiled. "No," he continued, "I was thinking…I…I'm…You're…I'm…never mind, forget it."

Zoe was clueless, "Okay,"

"So I'll see ya!" Takuya said.

And then Zoe's lips pressed very softly against Takuya's cheek. "It's my turn," Zoe said before she left.

Blood boiled under his skin. "Eeep!" Takuya told himself.

It was very hard, in the morning, to argue with Koji that he told his little brother. He dressed in his heavy clothes.

When he got downstairs, Shinya was there teasing him again—he was running later than he realized.

"Takuya and Zoe kissing on a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Shinya insulted.

"No, we didn't," Takuya pretended that he doesn't know anything.

"Yes, you did!" Shinya pointed.

"No, we didn't." Still lying.

"Yes, you did!"

"Yes, we did," Takuya was buying it.

"No, you didn't," Shinya was now confused.

"What are we talking about?" He asked quickly.

"I. Don't. Know." Shinya was lost.

"Perfect." A she swallowed a granola bar in three bites, chase it down with milk straight from the carton, and then hurried out the door.

It was hot; the air was almost dry with it. His heart thudded, stuttered, and then picked up again in double time when he saw Zoe.

He didn't see where Koji came from, but suddenly he was there, right beside him.

"You told Koichi and JP, didn't you?" Takuya guessed.

"They're our friends anyway," Koji replied.

"You're really not good at keeping secrets, are you?"

Koji laughed loudly.

During lunch, Takuya's friends are encouraging him to confess his feelings to Zoe.

"Are you thinking about Zoe?" Koji started.

Takuya was obvious, he quickly turned tomato red. "Wh…What…no…"

"No? Are you sure?" Koichi raised his eyebrows.

Takuya gulped but didn't answer.

"You were thinking about Zoe, aren't you?" JP drank straight his soda.

Takuya looked at his friends, still blushing. "I…"

"I think Zoe's not the brightest when it comes to things like that, so unless you tell her she will not know," Koji explained.

Takuya closed his eyes. "But if she doesn't like me?"

"So you can't tell her?" Koichi wondered.

Takuya breathed and opened his eyes quickly.

"Besides, there are many people who like Zoe." JP patted Takuya's back. "It's just because Zoe is too cool and cute."

"I know…" Takuya said shyly.

"For example, who do you think it is?" Koji snapped.

Takuya turned to Zoe and never took his eyes again off of her. "No idea…"

"That's good." Koichi said.

"How did you guys know this kind of stuff?" Takuya demanded.

"It's regarding Zoe," JP replied.

"We know you're keeping your thoughts to yourself, but are you really okay with that?" Koji asked seriously.

Takuya looked down. "Whatever your thoughts may be, if you don't say them, none of it will be acknowledge by others," Koichi added.

"Do you need help in Biology?" Zoe jumped in front of Takuya's side.

"Whoa!" Takuya said, surprised as he fell off of his seat.

"What's wrong with him?" Zoe asked his friends.

"Reflexes," Koji laughed.

"I'm okay," Takuya went back to his seat.

"As I was saying, do you need help in Biology?" Zoe repeated.

"Nope. Why?" Takuya's face was getting hotter.

"Because you're staring at me again," she said. "Besides, I'm not in the mood to sit alone today."

Koji, Koichi and JP snapped their heads up.

"We're just going to buy some soda," Koji stood up.

"Outside," Koichi added.

"But you can buy soda here at the cafeteria," Takuya said.

"Outside's better," JP walked away with the others.

"Awkward," Takuya and Zoe said at the same moment and they laughed.

"May I take a sit?" Zoe asked politely.

"I'm so sorry…my bad…sure!" Takuya drank his water.

"Is there something you wanted to tell me?" Zoe opened her book.

"Uhm…" Takuya remembered what Koichi told him. Whatever your thoughts may be, if you don't say them, none of it will be acknowledge by others. "Uhm…" Takuya hit the table with his palm which shocked Zoe.

"Hoe?" Zoe's tone was high.

Takuya's blood was rising through his veins. "I…" the words won't go out. Takuya bit his lip.

And then the bell rang.

"We should get to class now, if you don't wanna be late…" Zoe snapped.

"Yeah, of course," he grabbed and fast walked to class. His head was spinning faster than the bottle cap.

After school, Zoe wanted to be at the beach. The sound of the ocean was calm.

"Are you sure this is the only place you wanted to be?" Takuya asked as he watched the sunset.

"Yes…I'm sorry if it's so boring," Zoe smiled widely.

"But it's not."

"I'm glad you like it."

Zoe took off of her shoes and plunged her feet into the freezing water.

"Have I ever told you how I love beaches?" She raised her arms straight out.

"I guess not," He also took off of his shoes and stepped into the water.

"What I love beaches is the fresh and cool air and the water," she smelled the cool air. "I used to go here before my mother passed away."

"Why now?"

"You gotta see what you're missing here," she copied Takuya's answer yesterday. And they played at the water. Throwing sands at each other, collecting sea shells.

When they got tired, Takuya and Zoe sat near the water as they watched the sun setting down.

"Thank you for today," Zoe smiled. "Not only for today, for everything."

"You're welcome," Takuya grinned as well. "Who do you think is having a crush on you?"

She smirked. "I have no idea," she admitted. "Why would anybody like me?" She snorted. "Whoever is having a crush on me probably blind," she laughed.

He frowned. "What's the difference between those who can and cannot see?"

"What?"

"Those who can see never know when or what they can see or cannot see."

"Huh?"

"Zoe," he called over his name.

"What is it?"

Takuya gulped. Feeling a little blue but on the outside his face is red as the tomato, his heart pounding loudly again. "I'm…"

Whatever your thoughts may be, if you don't say them, none of it will be acknowledge by others, Takuya remembered what Koichi have told him.

Takuya breathed. "I'm in love with you, Zoe!"