Lying Face Down
Chapter One
One Last Chance
Things were always complicated when past allegiances are involved, she believed as she stepped aboard the private plane. She pulled her bag closer to her as she stepped past the smiling flight attendant, and she tried her best to ignore her. But how dare they smile at her when they knew of her fate?
She sat down in a comfortable seat and leaned back, closing her eyes as she fought an onslaught of tears. While it had been her dream to go to Japan since she was twelve, after seeing a handsome Asian movie star, she never imagined it would come at such a cost.
It had been the day after Christmas that her mother had died, drunk driving home from a bar that was located down the street. She had run a red light and another car had crashed into the side, sending her flying into a building. The next day she was on a plane to Pennsylvania with only her most cherished possessions and her two cats.
And there the nightmare had really begun.
The first few months went smoothly, with the distraught girl in intensive therapy for past hurts. Her birthday came and went and her biggest present was an acting gig at a nearby superstore for a commercial. And it was like she became famous overnight.
The glass was fogging up as she looked outside, seeing the solitary figures of her grandparents. They looked so sad, so desolate, that she just had to muster up the last of her strength to smile at them and look bright and happy.
Happy……some part of her mind mused. Ever since that woman had come to their home, accompanied by her son, she had forgotten what the word meant. And as the plane took off from the ground, and her grandparents disappeared from view, the man came to sit across from her.
He looked sad too, but she was too exhausted to care. The last rays of light faded and she turned away, and as her eyes closed the last few tears squeezed out.
}~*~{
Someone was prodding her gently. As her crystal blue eyes opened and she stared into the warm brown ones before her, she felt part of her despair fade away. Her soul lightened and she looked away from luscious brown and into pearly grey of dawn from the other side of the window. He still stood over her nevertheless.
"We are here," the current Suoh heir said softly.
Her eyebrows rose. "I don't speak Japanese, sir. Your English is excellent, but I hope you have someone who can teach me."
He leaned back, straightening up with a sigh. "Yes, my son can teach you. Clarice, I am so sorry this has happened to you-,"
"Yes, you say that now," she said dangerously, and rose as well. "But you didn't do anything to stop her, did you?"
She grabbed her heavy, very long bag and was out of the plane before Mr. Suoh could even turn around. An escort was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, a white limo door held open for her expectantly. She climbed inside without a moment's hesitation and Mr. Suoh was not far behind her.
The ride to Suoh Mansion 1 was a quiet one, with Clarice drifting in and out of sleep. She once woke to Mr. Suoh's surprised gasp, but when she inquired as to what had upset him, he merely shook his head. He had in his lap a computer laptop, which looked so expensive it made her pocket ache, and she assumed he had just witnessed a surprisingly awe-inspiring movie clip.
"We are nearly there sir," the chauffer said from the driver's seat.
"Excellent," the man sighed. "My mother is there, correct?"
"Yes, sir, and young Master Tamaki."
"My son?" Mr. Suoh said in surprise. "Why is my son here? He's never been allowed access before."
"Wow," Clarice whistled sarcastically. "Your mother sure is a charmer. It's a little comforting to know I'm not the only one she's so nice to."
He said nothing, but from the look in his eyes she could tell he was stuck between feeling insulted and angry, or apologetic and agreeing.
The car stopped and the escort got out immediately and opened Clarice's door, taking her heavy bag from her. She hopped out, instinctively reaching for the strap, but the chauffer refused to return it. He waited until Mr. Suoh was standing beside her before retrieving the other bags. When he had done so, they climbed the jade and marble steps together that led to rather impressive double doors made of oak. The knockers were made of solid jade, as were the doorknobs. As a butler that stood at attention beside the doors opened them, she felt something land in her hair.
Mr. Suoh plucked a pink cherry blossom from her golden hair, a few blue streaks clinging to it possessively. He gently brushed them away and handed it to her with a delicate smile on his perfect lips.
She accepted it with a dawning look on her face. She was here to pay for her grandparents' retirement. I'm finally paying them back for taking me in when I had nowhere else to go, she thought. The first real smile appeared on her pretty face, and they stepped inside together.
Kyoya looked up at the sound of soft footsteps, alerting the others to the approaching entourage. They all looked up, most of their faces nervous and it showed plainly; Miss Suoh's face was an impassive mask.
The doors of the library opened and two maids entered first, holding the doors as two noblemen (er, and a noblewoman I suppose) entered.
The Host Club couldn't stop the shock that rocked their bodies. Even Tamaki had been made speechless. Before them stood a girl that was slightly taller than Haruhi, but shorter than the twins, and had short hair that barely reached her shoulder, which had vivid electric blue streaks running through it.
Miss Suoh's eyes narrowed imperceptibly with her displeasure, but she resumed her studying of the girl. She realized she had lost a little more weight than the last time she had seen her, about two weeks ago, but she was still too plump for her liking.
She walked forward. "Come here, Clarice."
The blonde did as she was told, bowing for the old woman when she was before her. She forced herself to smile whilst looking up into Miss Suoh's wrinkled face. "Yes, Miss Suoh?" she questioned.
"You have dated no one, is this correct?" the heiress asked.
She blinked slowly. "No, my lady."
"Needless to say you are still a virgin?"
A blush. "Yes, my lady."
"It is nothing to be ashamed of," Miss Suoh snapped. "And I like you to stay that way. The contract on your grandparents' behalf with be illegitimate if you come here if you are pregnant. I have heard of your stepsister."
"She was not pregnant, my lady," Clarice said. How much more of this must I endure, she thought.
"Sneaking out of a bedroom window to have the nastiest hooker sex…. It is no small wonder she was indeed not pregnant. I understand why your father was disgraced by her, making you the only heir…." Miss Suoh continued as if the girl before her had said nothing.
Clarice straightened, her heart pumping fast. "I am my father's only child, my lady. Even if he did have a large company that I could inherit, that would go to my stepmother, not myself."
"Ah, but you doubt your father?" Miss Suoh inquired.
She had no idea of what the other was speaking of.
The old woman continued. "You are in a strange position, Clarice. You are your father's first born, yet you are your mother's second." She snorted to show disdain. "You are correct: your father does not have anything which you can inherit besides a title. No more of this 'Parker' nonsense. He is a Suoh by marriage, and I will not call you otherwise."
The woman turned to her left. "Tamaki has shown no interest in our work. You don't seem to either. Be that as it may, we still expect you to behave by certain standards. If you join this ridiculous club he has started, the deal is off."
"Club?" Clarice asked. "What club?"
"The Host Club. It is ridiculous to see so many young women fawning over them; it makes me sick to my stomach. If you join said club the deal will be extinguished due to the fact I will not tolerate your presence if you are homosexual."
Tamaki rose, something Clarice had a feeling he would regret later. "But, dearest grandmother, Haruhi-,"
"I did not ask you to speak." She watched him with narrowed eyes until he was seated again. The cold woman then faced Clarice. "You are too plump. I understand how proud your grandparents were at your weight loss, but you will need to lose more by the end of summer. After reaching the weight I believe acceptable, Mrs. Hitachin will create some clothes for you.
"Also, you will need to be taught the appropriate etiquette that those of noble standing must learn, along with our language. Your sloppy French will not hold up here."
Clarice let all instructions fly in one ear and out the other. She was used to being ordered around by her father, and then her mother before she died. Her chest no longer tightened with the memory of her, but she still chose to refrain from thinking of her.
Eventually it would just cause pain.
"You are dismissed. You may accompany Tamaki and his friends back to Suoh Mansion #2, and I request that my son and I speak in private as to your future. You will probably be married within the next year or so," Miss Suoh finished thoughtfully.
She couldn't stop the look of horror on her face. She heard movement all around her, and felt a tiny hand clasp hers, dragging her away. When she looked down, she realized it was a small boy holding a bunny limply in his other hand. He was looking up at her with concern, and was trying to look encouraging.
She just wanted this day to be over.
Clarice was numb during the whole tour of Suoh Mansion #2, whilst her cousin was silent except to ask if she was alright.
She always said yes; she was just tired.
Tired of this nightmare. Her mind wandered as she tried to imagine married life, married to a complete stranger. Would he be tender, yet condescending? Or perhaps unyielding and controlling? Her grandparents would never had let her go if they had known.
"Tamaki," a soft voice interrupted her host. "She's exhausted. Show her to her room so she can rest." That had come from a tall male with glasses.
They led her to a very large bedroom with ruby and sapphire draping with elephants at every corner, along with a grand piano on a raised platform by the window. The setting sun was seeping in, giving the room a faintly exotic look.
Tears welled up in her eyes and it was then that she realized she had been standing there and her cousin and his friends had left a while ago. She could still feel the heat on her shoulder from where Tamaki had squeezed her comfortingly.
On further inspection, Clarice found a letter with her name on it, taped to the bottom of the piano bench.
Clarice,
I hope this reaches you in one piece. Thank you for your sacrifice, and I wanted to let you know that you don't have to stay there if you don't want to. We will figure something out if you wish to come home.
We both love you very much, more than the money. We regret letting you go, and we hope we will see you again soon.
Love,
Grampy
She fell asleep on her bed, curled up within many plush elephants of different colors and sizes and ruby throw blankets, with the letter held against her chest. It was damp in certain places due to the wet, hot tears that rolled down her rosy cheeks.