The small delicate footsteps of a young woman resonated throughout the hallway, polished flooring reflecting her image briefly before disappearing in a quick swish of yellow. Though these footsteps sounded determined and strong to a spectator, they were in fact lost and just too damn proud to ask for directions, so they continued their rapid assault on wood.
Starting a new school was always difficult. So starting a new school, in a foreign land and language was bound to come up with a few hurdles, however, relentlessly falling flat on your face after every jump would begin to dissuade the strongest of constitutions. But like gramps used to say 'Perseverance isn't a long race but lost o' little ones instead. The idea is to keep you eye on the prize, never look back and to not trust the guy beside you with the odd beard and shady disposition." So giving up now would be like losing a race. I don't do losing, ain't my style, so there no other choice but to keep on chugging. Though I did always wonder why'd he emphasised the last one the most...
Suddenly stopping and gazing at the ornate door sign for some few minutes, she deemed the room to be the one she was wanting to find. Clutching her case tighter with one hand and the other resting on the door handle, she let out a long breath. That's right, mustn't lose sight of the prize. There's a reason she's here and why she has to stay; dreams are not for the fainthearted, they're dangerous terrible things that'll consume a poor fellow till they can do no more, forsake nothing else. So you should only be worried if you have something to loose.
The crack of light from opening the large doors temporarily impaired her vision, but upon full recovery what assaulted her senses were definitely not what she was looking for. Staring blankly at the famous septet for a while after their usual 'welcome' a frown marred her otherwise pretty features and she broke their little staring competition to look closely at the small book from her pocket. With the host club more then a little stumped at the less then warm reception, they watched as the foreign girl walked outside again, looking repeatedly from her book to the sign and back again.
Being the first to recover, Haruhi left the posing, lovable, rich bastards to their devices and walked over to the obviously lost girl. "Hello? If your lost we'd be more than happy to help. Where are you going?" Giving her usual adorable smile that was completely lost on the girl in her panic.
Furiously flipping the pages of the thick dictionary, she eventually stopped and began reading the set phrases out of the book, eyebrows burrowed in utmost concentration. "I... need to go to... toilet."
A look of understanding and an 'oh' came from around the room as everyone realised what was going on, well until the troubled girl began shaking her head frantically and making and making an x shape with her arms. "No, no, no... I'm sorry... err..." Upon seeing her previously confused expression on everyone else's face, an eureka moment came.
Charades.
Opening her case and quickly retrieving her violin, she played a quick note then tapped the door with her bow before repeating the actions.
Tamaki being the musically gifted amongst them got it instantly. "Of course my princess, I understand but you are mistaken. The popular commoners game is called musical chairs, not musical doors. A simple mistake I'm sure-"
"Incorrect dummy!" The twins shouted gleefully in unison.
Kyoya always the quickest to process got it instantly. "I believe she is inquiring whether this is a music room like the sign suggest. Looking at that Japanese to English dictionary, I'd say she has a poor proficiency in Japanese and was doubting that she'd read the sign correctly."
Haruhi sweat dropped 'so blunt!'
Tamaki had moved to sulk in a corner, looking back repeatedly whilst mumbling "...impress Haruhi... superior commoners knowledge... daddy humiliated..."
All the while the girl had dropped all attempts in communicating and was blinking owlishly at the scene in front of her, puzzled by their dramatic and energetic behaviour whilst they seemed to be quarrelling. What about she had absolutely no idea. Currently the rather flamboyant blond had got lonely sitting in an isolated corner and was shouting hysterically whilst two boys with identical grins and faces poked him from both sides. A cute kid and tall man both continued their tea party as if nothing had occurred whatsoever, and a student with sharp glasses began to hammer away at his keyboard, bored with the turn of events.
"Oh my..." Speechless, she turned to the only member still paying any attention.
Rubbing her head sheepishly Haruhi let out an embarrassed chuckle. "So your English then? I'm not fluent but I should be able to help a little. Oh, and don't worry about them, it's their...err...charm."
Picking up her discarded book she handed it back to its owner with a genuine smile "I think you dropped this in all this chaos."
Absentmindedly accepting the dictionary she could not help but keep staring. "So pretty." Before realising what she had said it was too late. "Not in a bad way- I mean your eyes are so big and your smile complemented it so well, it was dazzling. No, not dazzling, manly- ah handsome, that's it, it was definitely handsome!"
"It's fine I get it all-"
"Thank you for all your help!" Grabbing her belongings in record time she quickly exited the room before anyone could stop her, leaving a confused Haruhi in her wake. 'I guess she was in a hurry, still, she left before I could give her directions."
As a result the English student was unable to find a suitable room to practice that day. Perhaps it would have been smarter to accept the superintendents offer for a tour, her lessons start tomorrow and she currently did not know where any of her classrooms were; she didn't know just quite where anything was. Scanning the area around her and wondering when the hell she had managed to get outside, she chalked today up to experience and spotting a nearby tree she decided to take a nap.
Groggily rubbing her eyes, she listened out for the lively buzz of chattering students and busy teachers that she had heard previously. A sound that regardless of how hard she concentrated her ears, was glaringly absent. Oh...shit.
Quickly ripping her eyes open to the considerably dimmer sun, she rummaged through her bag in a panic, muttering curses under her breath as she reached for her phone.
18:34
Now that means one of three things. Number one, she's still dreaming peacefully under that lovely shade of the oak tree and she'll wake up any second now. Number two, the stylish new phone that she could barely use had malfunctioned and it was actually still the afternoon. Number three, the worst case scenario and the most probable, the lazy ass that she is has slept through the entire day and is so shockingly late to return home that she should seriously consider not going at all.
After banging her head against her hand a couple of times to let her stupidity sink in, she grabbed her bag and nimbly jumped down from her tree branch, landing awkwardly on those dainty little school she had been told quite sternly to wear.
"Like hell can I walk home wearing these things, never mind run." She muttered to herself, slipping the fine crafted leather of each foot and placing them neatly in her bag followed by her socks. Wiggling her toes in the freshly cut grass with unsuppressed glee, she began to run through the school grounds and out of the entrance, hoping against all odds that Takemoto-San had not gotten home from work yet.
"Class, please put your pens down and look to the front. Today, I'd like to introduce a new student, Effie Waterman" Grinning warmly the teacher gestured to the girl also standing next to the teachers desk. Though she appreciated the effort the teacher was making, Effie could not help compare the situation she was currently in to that of a prize meat being presented to a cage of hungry lions. However, she must admit, these lions were rather elegant and refined relative to the ones she were used to. They all had really shinny and fabulous hair.
"Please make her feel welcome." The teacher announced to the room grabbing some books and sheets and setting them on a desk somewhere near the left of the classroom. Effie jumped out of her little ministrations about the daily grooming habits of her peers at the sound of her teachers voice and gave the most disarming smile she could muster. "Please look after me."
And so the class began. To say that it was eventful was an understatement, from what she could discern from the squiggly lines hastily chalked up upon the board, it looked like some type of Japanese history. Then again seeing that she understood practically nothing, it could have easily been geography, or some other crappy lesson she was bad at on either side of the world. Somethings never change from country to country…
Stifling a yawn as discretely as possible, she internally debated whether taking a nap now would get her in too much trouble. I mean, surely newbies are allowed a little slack right?
'Nah' she thought absentmindedly. Certainly not worth the lecture she'd surely get upon returning home.
"Uh-hum."
Looking up startled, she noticed that the class was practically empty and that there two figures before her desk. "Eh? Um...I mean, how may I help you?" She corrected herself, mentally scorning her lack of manners.
A familiar face was staring back sporting a suave grin. "You're the lost girl right? The one that needed the bathroom? I didn't introduce myself, I guess I got carried away. My name is Tamaki, nice to make your acquaintance!" Ah, it was the dynamic blond! He had returned!
"Tch…Tamaki, we have a host club event commencing in 4 minutes and we haven't even rounded up the rest of the herd yet. By all means, recruit potential customers later, however for now we need to prise our dear Haruhi away from those textbooks." Ah...and speckles was with him. Wait...did he say customer? Surely not! They can't be…
Looking positively horrified, Effie slammed one hand on the table, the other pointing accusingly towards the two boys making a hurried exit. "You're...you're one of them aren't you?!"
Kyoya nodded unfazed. "Of course we are. Is there a problem?"
Fuming Effie marched up to them and pinched them painfully by the ears. "Bloody well right there is! You guys are the scum of the earth! I'm reporting you to both the school council, the chairman and the police!"
"Eh? But Dad already knows about the host club…"
Opening the door and forcibly dragging them out, she gave the coolest glare she had used in years. "The Chairman, your father...and he knows!? And using code words to disguise it?! YOU DRUG DEALING BASTARDS! I'M GOING TO GET YOU LOCKED UP!"
"..." And this was one of the few rare occasions where words failed the youngest heir of the Ootori family.
However the respectable pianist had a much more dignified response. "How could you possibly compare the beauty and elegance that is our host club with such vile and villainous acts?!"
"Tamaki...I don't think that's the correct way of reacting after being told you are suspected of being a drug dealer. Either she's more retarded then I initially believed or our image is rather worrying." Pulling out a note pad and pen and jotting a few notes down he gave the transfer student a stern look. "I'm leaning on the side of it being the former though. Our public image is superb, especially after our last calendar sale."
Effie's jaw dropped. Retard on the first day...first impressions have now somersaulted disgracefully out of the window.
"Hey Kyoya, can't we take her to event now? I'm sure she'll be swept of her feet at meeting the host club properly! Plus it'll be a good way of introducing her to the school, we are the most popular club after all." Effie internally cried. Here she thought she could get some sleep before getting picked up after school. Apparently someone at the house had spotted her climbing up the drain pipe to her room and squealed on her to Takemoto-San. So now she was to be ferried around like a goddamn child. How fun!
Kyoya shakes head and starts to walk ahead, not even making eye contact. "Afraid not. The event was sold out 3 months ago and we've already squeezed in far too many daughters of influential companies. Anymore will be a health and safety disaster." Looks back at Effie and gives such a charming smile that she has to question herself to whether she has already fallen asleep. Surely that smile that looks so foreign on his face must be due to some sleep deprived hallucination? "That is unless you happen to come from a significantly favourable social standing?"
Effie shook her head numbly. What a pretty smile… "No...my Pa was a carpenter."
Said smile vanished just about as quickly as it arrived. "Oh...I'm sorry that is quite unfortunate. The host club will not be able to admit you today, please call in advance should you wish to visit another time."
She wasn't sure if it was the brazen way he looked down upon her, or the sheer speed that fake smile returned into its usual scowl, but something lit a soon to be raging inferno inside of her.
Angry...no, she wasn't angry.
Livid? Perhaps, however it didn't seem to do this feeling justice.
Fucking furious. Bingo.
Screw first impressions. She never liked them anyway. "Oi pompous brat!" She called after him sticking a finger up for good measure. "If you're going to go out of your way to piss people off try to not give them so much ammunition. Your glasses add about 30 years onto your face and the way you push them back up makes you look like a serial killer. Your attitude is shit and is about as welcoming as a vampire on crack." Pulling the bag on her shoulder in a huff she began to stomp in the opposite direction, looking back briefly to add, "Oh, and maybe you should do something about that stick shoved so far up your arse, you look like you have difficulty walking like that."
Yup indeed. First impressions have died a messy, messy death.