Chapter One -
Rose grabbed her bag out of the taxi and hobbled onto the street corner. She looked up at the fancy apartments and hoped that her new abode would be suitable. She looked behind her and saw Victoria paying the cab driver their due amount.
"This is the right place isn't it?" She asked her friend.
Victoria looked up at the building and then back down at the piece of paper in her hand. "Yeah, this should be the right place."
Rose took a deep breath. Japan was so different from Washington D.C that this new culture would take some getting used to. "Only one year." She murmured to herself, "Only one year."
"What was that?" Victoria asked.
"Nothing. Just talking to myself." Rose said before they headed in.
Victoria sighed and smiled, Rose never changed even if cities did. Entering into the elevator, Victoria pressed the button for the third floor. Rose than proceeded to press the numbers one and two.
Victoria turned to her friend, "What was that for?"
"I'm just stalling."came Rose's simple reply.
Victoria nodded, She wasn't quite ready to meet there new care giver either.
The door to the apartment was ornately decorated with tasteful crown molding. Rose did not hesitate to knock. A young man appeared at the door. He was tall in every aspect, and held a competitive demeanor. Victoria looked once again at her piece of paper and matched it to the apartments address. It was indeed the correct place.
"Is this the Peters household?"
"Yeah." was all that came from the boy.
Victoria held out her hand. "I'm Victoria and this is Rose. We are the girls who are boarding at your house."
Without saying another word he let them in. Victoria looked around. The decor was completely modern, and the appliances were all new. Everything seemed to fit together in the way the rooms were decorated. The only thing that was out of place was the simply dressed woman sitting on the couch.
Rose went up to greet the woman, completely by passing the boy whom she found completely intolerable. "Ma'am, I'm Rose. Are you Mrs. Peters?"
The woman smiled at Rose and Victoria, who was behind Rose, and shook their hands. "It is very nice to meet you girls! Rose and Victoria I assume?"
"Yes Ma'am." Victoria said.
"Delightful! Simply delightful! By the way, I am not a Missus anymore. I am just Margret Peters now."
The woman stood up and began to lead the two girls down the hall. She talked the whole way. "These are your rooms. I hope the accommodations suit you. I am afraid apartments are very small in Japan. Come and get settled. You won't have much time to relax though. I got a call from Ouran High School's chairman saying that he would like to see you two today. I told him that you would be arriving here this morning and would see him as soon as possible. I will drive you girls down after you unpack." Margret opened their bedroom door. There were two twin beds. One large closet and two nightstands. A little nook was formed into the wall by the one window; providing a nice window seat. Overall the room was a decent size. Rose figured that they would get along well in the same room.
The girls thanked Margret as she left. Rose sat her two suitcases down on the bed of her choosing. "Mind if I take this bed?" Rose asked.
Victoria nodded her head and began to unpack. "It's a nice place." She said quietly.
"Yes, it's nice. But it's not home. I wish our fathers wouldn't go on such trips without us!"
"Look on the bright side. This will probably be more interesting than any other business trip! Besides, we just got here and already have places to go."
"You are just a positive thinker huh Victoria?"
"You betcha!"
Victoria's positive attitude had no affect on Rose. Rose sat down on the bed and looked out the large window. Why did they have to be in Japan of all places?! At least Margret was from Arizona. Victoria sat next to her friend; hoping to lift her spirits.
"Cheer up. I'm sure that there will be really interesting people at Ouran."
Rose scoffed, "I doubt that."
Victoria closed the closet door and turned to Rose. "Well, I believe it is time for us to visit the new school we will be attending for this year." She said. Rose moaned. She didn't even want to think about Ouran Academy.
"Oh come on, it might be nice. Don't knock it 'till you try it, some kids think its great!" Victoria said in hopes of upping her friends spirits.
Margret knocked on the door. "Girls its time to leave, are you ready?"
"Yes." Victoria said. She grabbed Rose's arm and practically dragged her to the car. The drive there was not long and in no time they were at the academy. Victoria looked up at the immense and elegant building. She looked to see two young, red haired boys walking by with mischievous looks on their faces. Victoria was amazed they were exactly identical! They looked over at Victoria and Rose, smiling. It was as if they were silently surveying the girls before they turned to one another to make an unheard comment.
Margret hurried them along and Victoria and Rose soon found themselves at the Chairman's office door. "Welcome girls to the prestigious Ouran academy! I welcome you with open arms and a generous heart!" The chairman exclaimed when they walked in the door. Rose's eyebrows furrowed. Was this a high school or a looney bin?! Victoria seemed to be calm and collected despite the character before them. She went up to shake the Chairman's hand.
"Hello Sir Chairman, I am Victoria Davis and this is Rose Lee."
"Nice to meet you Miss. You may address me simply as Sir. By the way, isn't your friends name-?"
"My name may not be Rose but that is how I like to be called!" Rose said firmly, not caring that interrupting elders made bad impressions.
"You are a girl with spunk!" The chairman said, "I like spunk in a young woman! It is a good and interesting quality!" Rose couldn't believe that this man actually ran a school. But then again................. They talked with the chairman for over an hour before they finally finished. When he stood up he offered for the girls to take a tour of the school. Rose couldn't have cared less but Victoria jumped at the opportunity.
"Yes please! Sir, would you care to tell us where the nearest music room is? My friend would like to play the piano a little." Victoria said with a smile ignoring Rose's protests.
"Yes of course! I think Music Room three is the closest. There is a fantastic piano in there that was just tuned yesterday." Victoria nodded, Rose and her taking their leave. Victoria was able to find Music Room 3 in no time. "I don't want to play!" Rose yelled at her friend. But Victoria continued to drag her along. "I don't care whether or not you want to play! I want to listen to you!"
When they opened the large double doors the two found a grand room filled with much finery. There was a magnificent grand piano in the center of the room. Upon seeing it Rose immediately lost all focus on anything else. Her fingers dancing on the ivory keys brought her great content. Suddenly this new school slipped away and the only thing left was her and the music. Victoria eyed the room, deciding that its layout was not sufficient. She walked to a near by closet to see what it contained. When she opened the door a plethora of costumes poured out. With delight she began to try them on and suggest alterations to herself. Forget Rose's playing! She had costumes to fix!
Meanwhile in the hall..............
Two handsome young men approached music room three. One firmly gripping a notebook. They were deep in discussion when the sound of a piano caught their ear. The blond immediately stopped his conversation about kotatsu's and turned to his friend.
"Kyoya! Why is a piano playing? Do you think Haruhi is learning a duet for us to play?!"
"Moron. Haruhi's never had any musical ability's and most likely never will." The black haired boy paused to think for a moment before saying. "But who would be playing the piano now? In our music room?" Tamaki put his hand on the door handle and turned it; causing a loud clicking sound to resound throughout the hall. The piano ceased to play. What the two boys found inside of music room three was certainly a surprise.