Chappie 1: Birthday Wishes
"God, Kristin! You shouldn't have!" I was jumping up and down in excitement. Kristin beamed with happiness to learn she bought me the perfect birthday gift. The Ouran High School Host Club Box Set.
"Mine next!" yelled my perky blonde, Cassie. I opened the pink packaging to reveal a new bracelet to add to our friendship bracelet collection. It was sparkling with rhinestones and it said 'best' on it. Cassie lifted up her hand to reveal the matching bracelet.
By now I know my red headed best friend, Erika, doesn't go out shopping and she hands me my birthday card containing my money.
"I love you!" I squeal as I hug my best friends.
Cassie wanders over by the window of the little beach house. She looks out into the horizon. "It looks like a thunder storm is approaching, no star gazing tonight." She says sadly.
We started sulking. That's what I hate about Washington weather, it's bipolar. I swear it was sunny just 20 minutes ago!
"Well, we have the rest of Spring Break to go to the beach." I say trying to get my friends spirits up.
My parents had rented this house for the week celebrating my birthday; the good thing is we are 4 hours away from them.
"Hey! Let's watch some anime!" Kristin yells merrily.
"Yeah!" Erika and I say in unison. Cassie gives us the 'look' which means, "really?"
"Fine, but just a little bit," She huffs, finally giving in to our puppy dog eyes.
We turned on the TV and popped in the first disc of Ouran. We hadn't finished the episode when Kristin asks, "Who's your favorite?"
Erika immediately responds, "Mori, because he never talks."
We all nod, "Understandable," we said in simultaneously.
Kristin then goes all fangirl. "Eep! I just absolutely love the twins!" She says. "No way! They are myfavorites!" I say raising my voice a little. "But which is your ultimate fave?" I ask.
"Kaoru."
"Good, because mine is Hikaru!" I say.
We all turn to look at Cassie, who has been silent throughout the whole talk.
If we were in an anime she would have a tear drop by her head.
But then she responds, "You know I'm not really into the whole anime thing!"
"But you have to have a favorite guy from the first episode!" I say.
Then we started having a heated conversation about boys and Cassie.
I press pause on the episode since no one was watching anymore. I walk over to the window and watch as the thunderstorm made its way to land.
"You know what?" I ask. Erika, Kristin, and Cassie all looked over at me, forgetting about the conversation.
"It's time for cake!" I say in a Honey-Sempai sort of manner.
I could see it; they all had purple marks down their faces. I mean if we were in an anime.
"My mom left a chocolate cake in the fridge. Cassie go get it. Erika get a lighter, I'll get the plates and forks." I order everyone.
"What about me?" Kristin asks.
"Try not to hurt anyone with the knife," I reply, remembering the time when we ate an ice cream cake that took forever to cut. But we took a picture of her holding up the knife like a serial killer.
We finally settled in, ready for me to blow the candles. Lighting struck some miles off the beach coast.
"Make a wish!" They all exclaim after they sing happy birthday.
"I wi-" I start.
"Don't say it out loud, it's bad luck!" Cassie freaks.
"I don't believe in it. So let her say her wish out loud, you never know it could come true!" Erika scoffs.
"Ok!" I yell.
"I wish we, Kristin, Erika, Cassie, and I, were able to go through anime." I say.
A bright flash of lighting struck and I blew the candles into darkness. I look up and the power had gone out.
"Ok, that was weird." Kristin says, trying to flick on the lights.
"Really, Karyn, Anime?" Cassie says. "I don't even like anime much less travel through it."
"Well, as if that would ever happen!" Erika snorts.
"You're the one who said th-." I stopped and looked into the living room.
"Why is the TV on?" I wonder.
We all rush into the living room, forgetting about the cake on the table.
Ouran High School Host Club was still paused on the TV.
"Okay, is this a really weird day or what?" Kristin says.
Erika and Cassie shrug. Cassie grabs the remote and presses play. The video played as if nothing happened.
I was starting to get nervous. I was scared but excited because this is the most exciting thing my 16 years of life have brought me. So I just playfully walk towards TV remembering my wish.
"Oh look, I have magical powers and I'm gonna go in the anime!" I say in a singsong manner, trying to break the tension. I was going to bump into to the TV when a flash of light filled my eyesight. Then I was gone.
"Oh MY GOSH!" Cassie yells as Karyn was gone.
All the girls look awestruck at the TV seeing Karyn as an anime character. She looked very cute with two little pigtails and her pink dress but, Cassie was starting to freak out.
"We should go after her!" Kristin exclaims. "Why did you tell her to wish out loud!" She yells to Erika.
"Sorry! I didn't think it would come true!" Erika yells back.
Cassie goes in between them. "Stop fighting! We need to get her back!" She says, breaking up the argument.
"How?" Kristin challenges.
"What, use our magical powers to go into the TV?" Erika's sarcasm kicks into high gear.
"That's it!" exclaimed Kristin.
They all look at each other knowing it was the only way.
"Here goes nothing," Erika says.
Cassie really didn't want to go but getting her friend back was much more important than her reluctance.
They held hands and Kristin touched the TV and they too were gone.
I opened my eyes to see I wasn't in Washington anymore. The colors were more vivid and- WTF! I looked at my reflection on the mirror and I looked anime. My hair was still brown and long but I had cute little pigtails on my head.
I cupped my hands on the window to see what was on the inside. I should have seen myself because I swear my mouth dropped more than it should.
Geez Karyn, you're anime, of course you can do that! I think to myself.
But I never thought I would see the day I saw Hikaru and Tamaki in person. I jumped up and down in front of the window looking into Music Room #3.
Tamaki was sulking in his corner and Haruhi was holding Honey-Sempai's bunny.
Oh I remember this! It's the first episode just before the makeover! I said putting, my finger up.
"What are you doing?" asked a familiar voice. I hurriedly whisk around to see my friends. They looked so cute in anime! Kristin's long wavy hair was flowing in the gentle cool breeze her, huge blue eyes fixed on my finger. Cassie was marveling at how she looked, her gentle blue eyes were wide as she looked at me. Her blonde French braid was so perfect with no flyaway hairs. Her glasses sat there accentuating her eyes. Erika saw herself on the reflection of the window and gawked. Her hair was red rather than orange, and her eyes were mystical with a blue-grey mix. Her hair was in a ponytail and her bangs kept still.
"No way! Did we actually go through?" Erika said, touching her unnaturally red hair. "Don't you see we're in an alternate universe!" Kristin exclaims pointing around.
Cassie stayed silent playing with her light blonde hair, as I stared into the window. But all I saw was Honey eating cake all by himself.
Oh, that's right. They left him alone because they all had something important to do. I thought.
Erika walks over to me, "Lets go home now!" She says not waiting for a reply she grabs my wrist and takes me along. Kristin and Cassie follow right behind a smirk on their face. "Do you even know how to get home?" Cassie asks.
Erika's cheeks turned pink with embarrassment as she realized she had no idea how to get home.
"Excuse me, who are you?" Two voices said in unison.
I turn around and see two identical twins standing before me. I went fangirl mode inside my head, because Eeped a little in surprise. But I couldn't believe my eyes, Hikaru and Kaoru stood back to back and their hands in their pockets right before me.
Kristin's cheeks turned pink as she met the twins.
"I bet they don't understand. Who.. are .. you?" They said emphasizing each word.
I turn nervously to Erika, who was trying to avoid my gaze. Out of nowhere Cassie said, "We come from America and we were looking for the administration office. Do you mind leading us there?"
My mouth agape, does she not realize who they are? Of course she doesn't she's only watched halfway through the episode.
"Sure," the twins said in unison.
"By the way I'm Hikaru, and this is Kaoru," One of the twins said.
Wrong.
The one talking was Kaoru and the other was Hikaru, I thought.
"Well I'm Karyn, these are my friends Kristin, Erika, and Cassie." I say trying my best not to screw up.
We finally made it to the bottom step of the building, when I realize what they should be doing. "Are you sure you want to come with us? Don't you have more important things to do?" I say, thinking of what Tamaki told them to do. Haruhi would be waiting for her school uniform.
"Oh, don't worry about it. We were heading here anyway." Hikaru says dismissively.
Kristin walks in front of me and gives a sweet smile, "Thank you for your help, we really appreciate it."
"No prob," the twins, say walking up the steps and into the building.
Once the twins were out of sight, Kristin and I look at each other and squeal really loud. "Did you see his hair?" She says. "Did you see them dismissively wave at us?" I exclaimed in utter excitement. "I'm having the best birthday ever!"
Cassie and Erika just look at us and shake their heads. "Now what?" Cassie asks as she plopped down on the first step.
I hadn't really thought about it. We have no idea how to get home, we are stuck here and nowhere to stay. We can't enroll into Ouran because it's a super exclusive school.
"I know! We could enroll in the school and have a dorm!" Cassie says, having a light bulb moment.
Kristin, Erika, and I facepalmed at the fact Cassie had no idea that Ouran isn't just a school, it's an exclusive school opened to beauty, wealth and brains. Of course Cassie had the brains, but none of us had wealth.
"Yeah, like we're going to waltz right up to the headmaster's office and convince him we are extremely wealthy." I say sarcastically.
The girls looked at me with devilish grins on their faces. Oh god no.
Next thing I know, we're sitting in chairs in front of the headmaster. He was shuffling through our registration papers and looking at us suspiciously.
All 4 of us have smiles plastered on our face, and our hands in our lap trying to look prim and proper. He's not going to be convinced, and I won't get to meet Hikaru. I glance over to the other girls, Erika is in her usual attire of blue jeans and a forest green t-shirt, her red hair in a low ponytail. Cassie is wearing a long flowery purple skirt, with a black t-shirt and a green sweater over it. On her feet there are knee high polka dotted socks, with pretty black flats. Kristin is wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, looking normal. I look down at myself. I am still wearing my pink dress with a blue bow I bought at Hollister, and matching pink flats. My hair is in a half updo.
"Well, I see everything but your parents' checks." He says gruffly.
Sweat drips down my forehead. "What is your parents' occupation?" He asked.
I start by saying, "My father is on a business trip in Rome, and my mother is at fashion week in Milan showing off her new line. So they shouldn't be bothered right now."
Erika follows my lead making up about her parents, "My father is at a meeting with the Canadian president, and my mother is working on Vin Deisel's home. She's an interior designer."
"Well, my parents are sharing our wealth with the poor kids in Africa who are in need of help." Cassie says.
All of us including the headmaster look over at Kristin. She was looking nervous but she finally decided not to blow it.
"My dad invented the toaster strudel!" She exclaims.
Erika, Cassie, and I had have teardrops on our head as she took that from Mean Girls.
"And your mother…?" The headmaster asks.
Finally Kristin looks more composed after her little nervous breakdown. She looks down as if to cry.
* sniff * "She died when I was only a child." She starts to fake cry with tears. Our mouths gaped opened. He will certainly NOT believe that.
"Oh, there there, sweety, it's alright," The headmaster says as he gets up from his chair to pat her back. We stare in disbelief he actually believes everything we told him.
"Well then," He says, looking back at us. "I need your parents to pay for your tuition and dorm rooms by the end next month or you will be kicked out." He finishes grimly.
"Yes, sir." We say as we bow and leave the room.
Once we're out of the building I jump up and down with excitement as I held the key to our dorm.
"Ican''tbelieveus!" I say, talking so fast none of the girls understand anything but my excitement.
"What? I can't believe I have to wear a hideous school uniform! Did it have to be a dress?" Erika groans in disgust, seeing that she hates dresses and skirts.
"Hey, we have no other option unless you want to go and sleep on the streets." Kristin says. Erika looks up with a sarcastic smile. "NO!" Me and Cassie yell.
That evening I was sitting in the dorm room Cassie and I shared, when I heard my phone ring.
"Isn't that your phone." Cassie says, stating the obvious. "Yes! Help me find it." We look under the bed and in the nightstand. Finally I found it in my pocket.
"Hello?" I say after fumbling with it just to press the answer button.
"Hola, Are you guys sleeping all right?" My mom says in spanish.
"Yes, Mommy. We'll be perfectly fine."
"Well I called the beach house phone and no one answered so I got worried."
"Oh, the telephone is not working so call me on my cell." I say smoothly.
"Ok, buenas noches!" She says and then she hung up.
"Who was it?" Cassie asks as she hangs her uniforms in the closet.
"My mom, and Holy COW! I get really good reception here!" I exclaim.
"Let me see!" Cassie says. We played around with my cellphone a little longer before we went to bed.
The next day, was our first day at Ouran. I lightly knock on Erika and Kristin's shared room. Kristin opens the door. "Erika doesn't want to come out, I told her she looked cute and she locked herself in the bathroom." Kristin says freaking out. She looked adorable! Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail with a yellow ribbon to match the school uniform. Her big blue eyes matched her turquoise necklace.
I walk in, "Let me handle this." I walk to the door. I whisper Erika's name.
"I'm not coming out!" She yelled.
"YOU'RE COMING OUT BECAUSED I SAID SO!" I shouted.
Kristin looked at me in surprise as she rarely got to see me mad, even if we were best friends. Cassie ran into the room. "What's wrong!" She yelled. Kristin explained to her about Erika. I look at Cassie, and she looked fantastic. Her school uniform fit her perfectly but it didn't stop there! She was wearing her knee high polka dotted socks with the school shoes. Her hair had little braids in them, and she wore a purple hair extension. "Didn't the headmaster state, we needed to wear school uniforms?" Kristin asks.
"Yes, but I studied the rule book while Karyn slept, Oh by the way you snore really loud, and it says nothing about accessorizing!" Cassie said.
"See, Erika, it's fine to come out! Just wear your tennis shoes and you'll be fine." I say softer this time.
I hear the doorknob click as she unlocked the door. I took a few steps back and watched as see opened the door. In the 7 years of knowing her I never thought I'd see the day where Erika wore a dress, not to mention she looked FABULOUS! Her long red hair was flowing down to her butt. Her pale skin glowed against the yellow and her blue eyes looked scared.
Our mouths hung open at the sight of her. Seeing our reaction, she quickly turned trying to lock herself in the bathroom, but I grabbed her wrist. "You look awesome, let's not be late to class, ok?" I said putting my most sincere smile. She finally sighed and grabbed her bag. Then we headed to class.
"This is Karyn Fer- How do you pronounce that?" The teacher asked.
"Ferreira, don't worry about it no one can ever pronounce it." I said smiling at the thought. I looked around the room. I spot the brown haired Haruhi, the identical twins, and Kasanoda from some of the episodes.
The teacher presents the rest of my friends and we bow courteously and make our way to our seats.
I sit down in a vacant seat next to Hikaru, while Kristin sits at the desk next to Kaoru. Cassie and Erika sit down in the empty seats behind me.
As the teacher takes roll, Hikaru leans over to me.
"Hey, aren't you the girl who was snooping outside the window of Music room #3?" He whispered.
I suppress a giggle, and nod. "Really I wasn't snooping," I quickly try to think of something. "My, er..friends and I were looking for the administration office which luckily you showed us the way." I say smiling.
He just looks at me in bewilderment, probably thinking that I'm a total ditz. Which to tell you the truth, I am.
"Well, since you to are being very friendly, why don't you show her around, Mr. Hitachiin." The teacher says.
"Yes, ma'am." Both the brothers stood up.
"No. Just one of you, Mr. Hikaru."
"Fine." One of them replied, but it wasn't Hikaru. It was Kaoru.
I had no idea how I knew that, not even Ouran freaks know how to distinguish them.
We head out of the classroom and start strolling down the hall.
"So Kaoru, why doesn't Hikaru show me around?" I ask, not looking up at him.
He looked at me indifferently. "But I'm Hikaru, not Kaoru." He says.
I shrug it off and skip in front of him as he shows me around. I felt his eyes on me the whole time.
The bell rings for us to go to lunch.
"Hey," I look over at Hikaru who was sitting coolly on his desk, a lollipop in his hand. "You wouldn't mind having lunch with us?" He asks.
My face turns a deep red, "Um, that's OK. But I really need to help my friends adjusting." I say with a sweet smile. Jeez, Karyn! What's wrong with you? This is your big opportunity to have lunch with the man of your dreams!
I turn around and hear Kaoru say, "Burn."I look over at the girls. Kristin, Cassie, AND Erika were surrounded by boys. Erika looked like she was being tortured, Cassie was sweetly smiling at whoever talked, and Kristin was like a boy magnet.
I went towards my favorite red head. "Ok, back off boys. Don't you have better things to do?" I say, trying to give Erika some space. Her face was in a deep blush that matched her hair color. It wasn't until all the boys left her alone was I able to talk to her.
"Are you ok?" I ask reaching out to grab her hand. She quickly pulled her hand away and walked out of the room without a word.
Kristin and Cassie came over to me smiling until they saw Erika gone. "Where'd she go?" Kristin asked worriedly.
"She ran off, help me find her!" I say, forgetting about my grumbling tummy.
We run out of the classroom heading in separate directions to find Erika. I was running down the hall towards the bathroom.
* Bump *
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to." I say apologizing while picking the dropped items. I look over at the person kneeling down with me. It was Haruhi! Her short brown hair combed and in place and the blue boys uniform on. How could anyone think she's a guy with those huge brown eyes? I thought.
"No need to apologize. It was my fault for dreaming off," She says giving her signature smile.
"No, it was my fault Ms. Fujioka. I was in such rush to find my friend I wasn't paying attention." I say handing her stuff back. She looked at me awestruck., while I just sit on the floor looking confused.
"How do you know I'm a girl?" She asks getting up.
Shoot. I'm not supposed to know. I get back up with her help.
"Well, we're both girls and I can see it in the eyes. Let's say I'm good at reading people." I say.
"Hmm. You are the first to notice." She gives me a genuine smile. "I've really got to go now. Just don't tell anyone ok." I nodded. I start to walk off but I remembered something.
"Haruhi-Sempai, did you happen to see a red haired girl run this way?" I ask.
She points towards the direction of the cafeteria. I thank her and run along.
Please don't tell Kyoya, I thought as I ran to the cafeteria.
I see a vibrant red from a sea of heads. She was at a table all by herself eating a turkey sandwich. "Erika!" She looks up at the sound of her name.
I was breathing heavy by the time I reached her. She had a smile on her face.
"What was that all about?" I ask frowning.
"I was starving! You know I get super grumpy when hungry!" She said, with a turkey in her mouth.
I laugh at the worry she put me through.
The other girls found us and we only had five minutes to stuff our first lunch from Ouran Academy.
The next school day Hikaru ignored me all day. But I wasn't surprised' he rejects the girls not the other way around. Wow, I'm stupid. Guys were all over my friends but only Hikaru approached me, and I turned him down.
But right now I can't get distracted. I always thought at Ouran they learned nothing as they never show sign of school work. Guess who has tons of homework tonight? Thankfully I share a room with the smart Cassie, and made a friend out of Haruhi.
But it would be nice to spend time somewhere that is not my dorm room this evening. I smile at the thought of going to the host club. But of course my daydream of being their special customer was ruined when the end of day bell rang.
I slowly get up and pack up my books as the girls rush out of the classroom to get to the host club. The boys also left in a hurry, but they're just glad that school was over. Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi run out to their club activities.
"Hurry up Karyn!" Cassie, Kristin, and Erika were waiting by the door. They were very impatient to leave school and get back to our rooms.
"Coming," I quickly get up and run towards them.
We head down the Music hall to get to the dorms. The girls giggle about something in front of me. I stayed back, wondering what was happening to me. I blush every time I glance at Hikaru. Music #3 was at the end of the hall, the host club would be there. So would Hikaru, I blushed at the thought.
I look up to see the girls were gone.
Oh shoot, they left me behind.
I run down the hall and turn the corner. I was suddenly surrounded by black.