She hated this with every morsel of her being, every fiber of her existence. To be seen in music room number three was an was not one of those bustling, bumbling school girls that had nothing better to do than to fawn over attractive men. But of course, her friends were. So as they dragged her toward the rose colored, ornate room, her stomach did a flip. She had thought she was better than this. But as she burst through the double doors with the golden handles and is greeted with the chorus of 'Welcome!' her heart beat grip at the ends of her aurulent dress, as rose petals whirl all around her. The fragrance is overpowering, yet alluring. A pink petal sticks to the lenses of her glasses, she sighs and peels it off as her friends squeal. 'What idiots i have for friends' She couldn't help but think. The room was sickeningly carnation colored room. It was all too much for her.

"Hello, princesses! Which host would you be requesting?" She looks around, praying there isn't anyone she knows. But of course the voice is coming from the legendary Tamaki Suoh. Shit. She glanced around, noticing a few more girls sipping tea. And then of course there was Kyoya Ootori. His beauty was the most subtle of them all. She hadn't known he was in the host club. It didn't quite seem his forte. She glances up at the dangling carnation colored chandelier, the puce tinted clock. As the men wooed her friends, she snuck over toward the door, hoping to exit before anyone notice.

"You look like-." started Hikaru

"A ray of sunshine." Teased Karou. She frowns at their jape; She hated the damn uniform.

"So how tall are you, anyways?"

"Like, without the heels?" She glances down at the raven colored, laced boots she wore. She flushed slightly. "You gotta be at least 5'2." Her blush deepened. Kyoya and Haruhi watched the exchange from afar, Kyoya smirking. From his investigative research, he knew she was only….

"You're only five feet tall?" laughed Hikaru, holding her identification card.

"Come on, guys." interjected Haruhi, "Be nice."

"Haruhi is right. You better not drive away another guest." added Kyoya, a glint in his stormy eyes, Haruhi walks up to her, noticing the tell tale signs of uncomfortableness.

"Which host would you prefer?" she asks innocently. Clover stops in her tracks. "Well, none i suppose. I was more dragged here against my will." She explained

"That's okay. Well, since you're here you might as well enjoy yourself." She decides. "Come, we can have some tea."

Despite how much Clover wanted to refuse and get out the room that made her sick to her very soul, she decided to indulge on Haruhi's offer and followed her to a soft-looking cushion sofa. She sat down and Haruhi went to go get the tea ready for this new guest that had no idea what the host club was about. She looks up to see the bespectacled boy from earlier, scribbling away in a small black notebook. Haruhi returned holding two ostentatious cups, filled to the brim with hot tea.

"It's Earl Grey." adds Kyoya. Haruhi looks at him, confused.

"How do you know, senpai?"

"Who do you think buys the supplies for the host club?"

"I do…"

"But who do you think writes the list? Besides, I can recognize the scent of my favorite tea."

"It's your favorite as well?" He looks up, intrigued.

"Well, yes. I presume it is yours as well."

"It is. With Jasmine tea being second."

"I like Jasmine, but it lacks a certain characteristic i like."

"What characteristic?"

"Sweet with a tint of sour."

"So types of things do you like to do for fun?" asked Haruhi. She couldn't help but notice how her bottom lip trembled when talking to Kyoya. The way she shook ever so slightly while holding her teacup, the light blush spread across her nose and cheeks, the way she would occasionally look over at Kyoya, then look away. The way she would unconsciously pat her hair, as if it were out of place. Haruhi recognized the telltale signs of a girl with a developing crush. She wondered if Kyoya had noticed. A perceptive man he was, but when it came to affection? Uncharted territory.

"Reading. Writing." Clover answered simply.

"Oh? What's your favorite book?" Haruhi was surprised to find out it was Kyoya, who had actually put down his little ebony book and smiled genuinely at the small girl before them. She couldn't help but wonder if he was genuinely interested in the girl or was just trying to ensure her return to the club.

"Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."

"Interesting. What house are you?" She rolls up her sleeves further to reveal at least eight bracelets on each arm of various fandoms and bands, she points out a cream and emerald rubber bracelet.

"Slytherin" She smirked.

"I've been told I am in Slytherin as well. Though perhaps I qualify for Ravenclaw as well."

"No one referred to as the Shadow King would be a Ravenclaw, Kyoya-senpai." Mumbled Haruhi.

"Who was your favorite character?" Asked Clover, her interest thoroughly peaked. He considers the question for a moment.

"I believe Snape had the most intriguing character." Clover smirks, a glint in her olive colored eyes.

"Snape? Wasn't he like, a huge jerk to the Golden Trio?" asked Haruhi.

"Perhaps, but his character had depth that could not be understood until the end of the series." He pushes up his spectacles, as he speaks in an almost condescending manner; as if this was the most common knowledge there was. "Which twin did you prefer?" he inquired

"I didn't have a preference. Gingers aren't my thing." He chuckles softly, while Haruhi sips her tea. "They're kind of like those two over there, aren't they?" Haruhi glances over her shoulder at the fiery headed devils known as the Hitachiin twins.

"You have a keen eye, mademoiselle. I believe that may partially be their appeal to the guests." Her lips spread into a small smile. "Who's death was the most unnecessary?"

"Snape. He could have been saved if Harry or Hermione weren't so stunned. Or Sirius. But I didn't care for him much." Kyoya smirks.

"I agree. You don't care for Gryffindors much, do you?"

"No, I don't. They were much too overrated in the books." She runs a small hand through her copper hair.

"Very true. Rowling's descriptions of all the Slytherins were very boorish."

"Of course, it was from Harry's point of view and he despised most of the Slytherins."

"Umbridge was just awful, wouldn't you agree?"

"She was an old hag." It was then Haruhi went to clear the half drunk tea. The next thing Haruhi knew her knee was colliding with the corner of the table, almost knocking Kyoya's laptop off the table. As the tea went flying into Clover's lap, she could feel Kyoya's glare. She also felt a dull ache shoot up her leg from the impact.

"That'll be another 1000 ¥, Haruhi." He was ready to add up her debt once more, but when he looked up the elaborately decorated tea set was in the woman named Clover's delicate hands. She was covered in the warm liquid, Haruhi even managed to douse her hair. But Clover had managed to catch the tea set before it collided with tile and shattered. Haruhi sighed in relief.

"Thank you! I can't imagine what i'd do if my debt increased again…" Clover raised a finely arched eyebrow, but did not question the host. Kyoya sighed, she had really done it this time. As if this young lady would return to the host club after this clumsy encounter. Which was a pity, because it was very rarely he got to share an intelligent conversation with anyone, let alone a guest. Every bit of income counted. Luckily, it seemed they were the only ones who had seen the blunder by Haruhi. He pinched the bridge of his nose, then gently took the tea set away, setting it on the table. She stands to excuse herself, deciding it would be best if she cleaned the mess on her dress before it stained, when she too made the same mistake Haruhi made. Tripping over the edge of the finely polished mahogany table, she fell. Directly into Kyoya's lap. Both of them were equally surprised and Clover was more embarrassed than anything.

"Maybe we should move that table…" muttered Kyoya, pushing up his glasses. He could faintly sense the scent of Japanese cherry blossoms and roses radiating from the girl in his lap. Her chocolate hair cascaded down her back, still drenched in Earl Grey.

"S-s-sorry!" She stammered, hopping up, feeling immensely humiliated.

"Quite alright." He sighed. "Haruhi, you should help Miss Alvarado clean herself up. I believe we have a spare uniform, though it may be for men it should surely be better than a wet one. Put her hair in a braid as well."

"Kyoya-senpai, i don't know how to do that…"

"How do you of all people not know?"

"There was a reason i cut my hair short, you know." Kyoya sighs, irritated as usual. This club was stressful.

"Do any of you know how to properly braid hair?"

"Nope." replied Mori

"Sorry Kyo-chan!" sang Honey

"Not in the least bit." harmonized the twins. Kyoya almost asked Tamaki, but then thought better of it. That idiot was an only child, whose hair would he be braiding?

"Useless…" He muttered. He turns to Clover, smiling.

"Come with me, then Miss Alvarado. I can provide you with a uniform and braid your hair."

"Thank you." She follows the tall man into the changing rooms. He waits politely outside of the changing room as she slips out of the now ruined primrose dress. She does her best to dress quickly, but the curve of her bust and hips stuck out like a sore thumb in the outfit. She steps out,still adjusting the tie of her uniform now. Kyoya looks up from his notebook, noticing how prominent the uniform makes her feminine features. The soft curve of her jaw, the long eyelashes, the meander of her hips. She smiled at him and he felt something twitch in his chest. Odd. He'd have to monitor that closely. He returns the smile, out of courtesy,

"Please, take a seat." He instructs. She takes a seat on a cushioned stool in front of him and he began to slowly run a comb through her long, straight hair

"You have lovely, soft hair." He compliments. Now had she not known how hosts were, she would have blushed. But they were trained to do this, all encased in lies, and charms. Nothing said was genuine. Especially from Kyoya. All he cared for was revenue, and to ensure it would continuously keep flowing. He would flatter a lady or two, that much she knew. So she waved away the compliment as he ran the comb through her silky hair. He separated her locks into three strands and began to braid. His hands were soft, gentle. Perhaps she could understand the appeal of the host club after all.

"I couldn't help but notice, you don't know how to braid, either?"She flushes slightly, embarrassed.

"My mother was very unstable. She left when I was fourteen, she never taught me how to." She stares at her hands, holding back any emotion that threatened to break forth.

"I'm terribly sorry to hear that."

"How is it that you know how to braid?" Clover asked. Kyoya gives her a small smile.

"I have a sister." he explains. He finishes, tying it up at the end. "Now your hair will be wavy tomorrow, just in time for the host clubs ball. I do hope to see you there." She admires his work in the mirror. She had not considered ever returning to the host club on her own free will, but now that he mentioned it…

"I suppose I could stop by."

"I'll be sure to save a dance for you." He smiles, pushing up his glasses.