Dear Mama,

I miss you. I need your advice today mama. I'm starting a new school, and they seem to have shipped me the wrong uniform: a girl's one. But if I don't show up in a uniform they won't let me on campus. Nonno worked so hard to get me in to the academy I don't want to mess it up on my first day! I'm really glad he's gone to work ,and Lovi has gone to his college classes because Nonno would cry and Lovi would yell… Anyway mama, I love you and I wish you were here.

Love always,

Feli

Feliciano held the bright yellow dress out in front of him biting his lip, worry in his amber eyes. If he went to school in his normal street clothes, he was sure they would slam the gates closed in his face and tell him to never come back. And what would that do to his poor Nonno? His youngest grandchild dismissed from yet another school. Feli could see the disappointment on his grandfather's face. Already Feli would have to run away out of sheer disgrace, forced to live on the streets like an urchin. An urchin living in Japan who couldn't even speak Japanese.

Yes, this was the only thing to do.

Feli pulled the dress over his head, keeping his shorts on underneath. They made him feel…more secure. He took the little white stockings and shoes out of the box the dress had come in and put them on. Taking a deep breath, he stood up and faced the mirror.

'Not too bad' he whispered straightening the little string bow tied at his neck. His auburn hair brushed the white collar. According to his brother he looked like a girl already.

Didn't that prove his plan was going to work? He just had to keep a positive attitude. Everything was going to work out.

He took a deep breath and walked out of his room. Sneaking into the hallway, he peeked into the living room. Lovi had definitely gone to class and Nonno had woken him up before he went off to work. The penthouse was empty. Now he just had to make it to school without anyone recognizing him.

The long walk to school consisted of many short sprints behind trash cans and sign posts and quick looks to make sure he didn't know any of Nonno's associates, but everybody looked Japanese and (he felt terrible about this, he really did) they all looked the same.

When he arrived at Ouran, the man at the gate didn't even look him in the face. Feli just handed him the ID card, and he handed it right back without a word. Strange country. Not even a good morning. Not even a hello. Feli swallowed missing his village in Italy where everybody knew his name and asking after him. Home was friendly.

Here, even school was scary, and school was the place you were supposed to feel the safest.

He took his books and his schedule (which stated his name as Vargas Feli (not, thank heaven above, Feliciano) to his room and sat in the back with his head down for the rest of the day. Feli was not what one would call shy, by any means, but his appearance today dialed his tone down ten notches.

As they were dismissed for lunch, a blond haired blue eyed guy with glasses spotted him, grinned and swaggered over to where he was sitting. 'Alfred,' the boy extended his hand, 'Alfred Jones.' He winked and grinned down at Feli. Alfred had an American accent and his voice was kind. Feli smiled and shook his hand. This guy was nice, sort of goofy, but nice. 'My name's Feli.'

'This place can be kinda intimidating huh? Especially if you're new. Trust me I know all about being the new kid, but it's not too bad. The food's awesome and everybody's pretty cool once they warm up to you. Maybe, if you want, I can introduce you around? Why don't you eat with me and my friends at lunch?'

'Yes! Yes please! That would be so nice! Thank you for inviting me!' Feli smiled. Today was finally turning around!

Alfred grinned. 'Cool! And maybe you could come by the host club today after school, that's where everyone hangs out.'

Feli didn't have the faintest idea what a host club was but this boy was the nicest person he'd met all day. He looked like one of those bouncy golden retrievers and Feli just wanted to make him happy, so he said he'd try and stop in and see him.

A smaller blond boy with green eyes and yellow hair (and weird bushy eyebrows.) turned around in his seat and glared at Alfred. Alfred peeled his eyes off of Feliciano to glare right back.

'Are you bothering this young woman, Alfred? Your American "hospitality" isn't always welcome you know.' He turned his attention to Feli, 'I'm sorry about him, miss, he's not what you would call cultured. I assure you all the young men here aren't nearly as rough as he is. I'm Arthur Kirkland, by the way. Did you say your name was Feli?'

Arthur spoke in a clipped British accent but his eyes were softer than his voice was. Feli wasn't sure quite how to take this Arthur. "It's short for Felicia. It's my mother's name. She named me after herself which is nice because she's such a beautiful woman. Maybe I'll take after her.' Oh, gosh. Why was he babbling? This guy didn't need to know his life story; it wasn't even his real life anyway!

'You are already very beautiful, Miss Feli. Would you like to join me for lunch?' Arthur gave him a sweet smile and doe eyes. Maybe he wasn't so bad. Maybe he was nice, too.

'Oh here we go!' Alfred moaned throwing his hands in the air, 'Jeez! can't you back off for like ten minutes!'

Arthur set his jaw and the doe eyes became scary tiger eyes, 'Listen, you idiot. I'm trying to be a gentleman I'm not asking for anything like you, obviously, were. Let her choose who she wants to sit with at lunch herself!'

They both turned to look at him with expectant eyes.

'Um what? I-I don't want to choose just one friend.' He said confused.

'Look what you did, you jerky limey! Now she's all hurt!'

'Me?! You're the one who sauntered over to her like you think you're some kind of sex god, winking at her and pulling some stupid line out of your arse! Who are you supposed to be, James Bond?'

'You're just jealous 'cause you use that line on everybody and you can't use it on her! You're just as bad too! Oh I'm a gentleman blah blah blah! Look at me! I drink tea with my pinky out! That totally doesn't attract women dude.'

Well that escalated quickly.

'Wait wait wait! Please don't argue! Can't we all sit together at lunch? Come on, I'm really hungry! Show me where the lunch room is! What kind of meals do you have? I bet it's yummy! Please, no more fighting.' Feli looked from Alfred to Arthur nervously.

Alfred pouted

'Oh fine.' Arthur grumbled getting up from his desk.

With a flourish he bowed, 'Would you do the honor of accompanying me to lunch?' He said offering Feli his arm, his green eyes looking up at Feli threw his blond lashes.

Feli looked at it. Would a girl take his arm? Is that what he should do? Arthur was doing that sweet doe eyed thing again.

Oh, what the heck.

Feli took his arm and bounced out of his seat grinning, 'Yay! Pasta! Lunch is my favorite subject!'

'Hahahaha! It's mine too!' Alfred bounced to Feli's other side and took his arm. 'The lunch room here is awesome! They have food from everywhere to make everyone feel at home or whatever. It's great! And it's a total load off to just hang out for a while you know?'

Feli smiled. 'Yeah I think I'm feeling more at home already.' And even though these guys seemed to hate each other, they were treating him like a person. Like a friend even. What more could you want on the first day of school than a friend?