Be Faithful

"Wait there for me, okay Haruhi? I'll be right back!"

Haruhi frowned to herself, glancing around the classroom.

"I've got to go, Hikaru. What do you want?"

"I wanna do something! Just... wait there!"

She hesitated by the door, torn.

Since when...

The oldest Hitachiin ran out of the door, shouting "I'll be back in a second!" over his shoulder with his trademark grin on his face.

Kaoru winked at her before following him out, amused.

Since when did she willingly wait for him?

Irritated by the illogical want to wait and be around him and the logical need to go shopping before it became too crowded, Haruhi glared at the empty classroom.

She really didn't know what was happening to her.

She had always been level-headed and independent, happiest in her own company... yet now she felt almost needing of Hikaru, wanting him around her yet growing awkward in his presence.

It made absolutely no sense.

So, obviously, she didn't like it.

Stupid Hikaru.... She thought, sighing. Why did I have to fall in love? It's too confusing.

Even at the host club, instead of hanging round the twins all the time, Haruhi was beginning to strike up random conversations with Tamaki and the other host members, just to get out of feeling so annoyingly complicated and... fluffy. Tamaki seemed to realise something was on her mind and had even toned down his usual stupid dramatics, simply chatting about university and his meetings; things Haruhi could actually give an input about.

But despite all that, here she was, waiting for him.

It was so not like her.

Haruhi frowned again and gave the room an idle glance. She really had to go food shopping... there was a one-day sale on at the supermarket today and with Mei coming over more than ever they could definitely do with stocking up...

Something suddenly caught her eye and she blinked before giving Hikaru's desk a closer look; then she sighed.

Under the chair was a few scattered papers that had obviously fell out of his bag when he hurried off to whatever he was doing now. She slowly walked up to them and, quickly placing her bag on a desk, crouched down to collect them, instantly recognising Hikaru's hurried notes for today's class on the top.

He's so laidback... She observed musingly to herself, wondering mildly whether that was a criticism or not.

Haruhi didn't mean to read what was on that last piece of paper; she was planning to just collect them up and return them when Hikaru finally reappeared. But as she picked it up, she subconsciously registered what Kaoru had written on it in a teasing scrawl.

Hikaru, do number 20! I'm sure Haruhi would luuurrvvee that one. :D

'Eh?' Haruhi blinked, and couldn't help looking at it again at where Hikaru had scribbled a response.

Shut up!

I'm not actually talking... I'm writing. Duh.

Quit writing on my list! And Haruhi wouldn't fall for that one anyway.

But you want to...

No I don't! Stop writing on my stuff!

Stop responding then. :P

And then the conversation disappeared into the crease of the paper. Filled with more a sense of morbid duty than real curiosity, Haruhi slowly unfolded it and found a long list, crinkled and thin, as though it was often looked at then stuffed out of sight.

Her eyes narrowed as she read the title.

'Take a photo with them.'

It was mostly a spur of the moment decision to complete that particular pointer on his list, but as he'd left his camera in the club room the day before, Hikaru just had to do it.

That and the fact he didn't have a single picture of just him and Haruhi.

So, obviously, he needed one.

Smirking to himself, pleased, he quickly trotted down the corridor, wondering whether he had kept Haruhi waiting long. Kaoru had already gone home, taking both of their bags and merely giving him a cheerful wave before he walked off, teasingly shouting over his shoulder to make sure he had mints.

He had even gotten into a habit of, instead of saying 'Good morning!' like he usually did, waking him up by singing 'Good morning-are-you-going-to-confess-today?' down his ear.

Huh.

He swore Kaoru was enjoying all of this.

It wasn't like he wasn't going to confess. He was. Honest. It's just that whenever he thought about it, he suddenly felt terrified. And worried. And kind of sick.

And if that wasn't a bad omen, Hikaru didn't know what was.

A sudden thought occurred to him and he slowed slightly, frowning to himself and he musingly shifted the camera about in his hands.

Haruhi had... been hanging round with Tamaki a lot lately.

Like at club, she didn't stand around talking to the oldest twin like she usually would and if he caught her she would subtly excuse herself from his presence and make her way over to Tamaki. She had even gone to try and drag him out of his 'depression corner' rather than staying and talking to him.

But Hikaru wasn't bothered about that at all. Nope, not at all. Haruhi would never go for that idiot, right?

They're just being friendly.

Right.

What am I talking about? Hikaru sighed to himself, casually pulling a hand through his auburn hair. I told myself I wouldn't get even the tiniest bit jealous anymore. Just remember what Kaoru said at club the other day...

...

What did Kaoru say?

Something about... Tono... and jealousy... and... a... tea cup...

Hikaru shrugged to himself, easily brushing it off as he finally reached the classroom again.

Ne, I'll remember it later.

He burst into the room, a huge grin splattered over his face. To his delight, Haruhi was still hovering in the middle of the room, apparently waiting for him. He felt quite special.

"Hey, Haruhi!" He called, beaming at her as she turned; he noticed her face was completely blank and monotone, but he easily dismissed it as boredom and quickly held up his camera with a mighty flourish. "I wanna take a photo!" He announced in explanation, swaggering towards her in his usual manner as he distractedly turned it on. "'Cause I haven't got a picture of me and my best friend, Haruhi!"

When she didn't reply, he just gave her a mock reproachful look and added teasingly; "And I need a photo of our toy, so you're totally not allowed to refuse!"

"'Take a photo with them'?" Haruhi suddenly spoke up, her voice as blank as her face.

Hikaru froze and looked up at her in confusion, thrown off.

"Huh?"

"'Take a photo with them'." She stated again, this time raising an eyebrow.

Hikaru stared at her blankly for a second before his eyes finally crawled down to her hands, instantly spotting the small bundle of his work that must of fell out of his bag; and there, right on the top, was his list, half open and completely visible.

He blanched in horror.

"I'm not a toy." Haruhi said clearly, her face still completely mask-like as she pressed his work into his arms. "I'm a person."

"No- wait- what? Haruhi, that... um..." Hikaru suddenly felt completely lost, totally confused by the 360 degree turn the conversation seemed to have taken. "Wait... What do you mean?"

Haruhi had smoothly collected her bag and was currently making her way to the door, only pausing at in the doorway to mutter; "I'm sorry I didn't realise you were playing a game."

"Wha- wait, Haruhi, that's not-!" But his words died and shrivelled in his throat as Haruhi gave him a blank glance, obviously unimpressed.

She... thinks I'm playing game?! Hikaru thought wildly as he stared at her. But I'd never- well, we used to but... that's not now! I've never been more serious! I...

"That's not true!" He managed to splutter indignantly as the brunette sighed quietly. "It's not like that!"

"That's what it looks like." She stated shortly, sounding almost cold; which it did... if you were too oblivious and logical to think up the possibility of being loved back, that is. "Doesn't it, Hikaru?"

And that was the moment.

The moment Hikaru could confess, solve Haruhi's misunderstanding and mostly likely get what he'd been dreaming about for almost a year. All he had to do was tell Haruhi what he really had the list for. That's it.

But Hikaru was an idiot.

Idiots panic the moment they're placed in a scary situation.

Idiots turn that panic into irrational bursts of jealousy.

Idiots get irritated just because they don't know what to do.

And Hikaru suddenly proved that he was the world's biggest idiot.

"You wouldn't be getting this angry if it was your beloved Tamaki with the list."

There was a few seconds of silence. Haruhi tensed before she glanced over her shoulder with a look that was forcing itself so hard to stay blank that it hurt to look at.

"What's Tamaki got to do with this?"

"Well, if you make it so obvious when you drool over him..." he almost sneered, his brain now apparently totally disconnected with his mouth.

Haruhi stared at him, slightly flushed and feeling scarily close to furious. She had been spending more time with Tamaki in an attempt to come to terms with her love for the oldest Hitachiin, and now he had apparently decided how she felt and was shouting at her for it?

...Bastard.

"I do not drool over him. Why would I-?"

"It sure looks like you do." Hikaru interrupted her snappily, though it was more of a mumble than a shout; he had a slow frown on his face, as though he was trying to see past the fog of his possessiveness to see the word his subconscious (which sounded suspiciously like Kaoru) was screaming at him. What was it?

Haruhi's face had finally given up and crumpled in a glare, hand twitching as though she felt like re-introducing it to his face. Because she loved him, she felt angry enough to slap him. But because she loved him, she didn't want to.

...Bastard.

In the end, she was still Haruhi.

"Well, if it annoys you so much when I have friends, you know what to do, don't you?"

"..." Hikaru didn't reply, having just worked out his own opinion for himself after his outburst. Idiot, idiot, idiot!

Haruhi answered herself anyway.

"Stay away from me." She stated bluntly before she turned on her heel and promptly walked away.

For a second, he just stared, his notes crumpling in his tensed fists.

Finally, a look of complete and utter horror took over his face and his stomach dropped miserably in realisation.

He had just screwed everything up.

In the space of a mere ten minutes, he had screwed up and lost the one thing he had been thinking about and wishing for more than anything else in the world.

Because of his childish temper.

...Crap.

... Please don't kill me xD I'm sorry. I could have had Hikaru confess when Haruhi saw the list but I decided to be difficult :P And uh, don't kill Hikaru either. O.o Kaoru hasn't got to him yet. –cue evil laugh-

Thank you for reading up to here and a super thank you to everyone who's reviewed! You all rock! :D