I waited by the counter, signing my name in the guest log as the guy went in back to get me a key for my room. I buried my head in my hands. I hadn't lost much, but that was my HOME. Where I had lived with my parents... and it was gone...

And I knew who did it.

I was never going to have a boyfriend. Ever again.

The only thing he didn't know was that all my money was in a bank; I could have just as easily bought another house, ten, even. But that one was special. I didn't have many belongings in it, just whatever was mine. I donated all my parents things to various charity and auctioned off others when they died. It had been my choice. When I pay bills, I just have the companies take money directly out of the bank. If I needed to shop, I took some out and spent it. There was nothing in my house but memories I wanted to keep. I could have still lived on, but he knew the house was what I cherished most.

Bastard.

I slapped the cash for a month's rent down on the counter. The man, obviously a creeper, with large teeth and big horn rimmed glasses and a nasally voice, raised his eyebrows at me but did not question me. I stomped off to my room, relishing in a hot shower before I went to bed. It was moderately clean, with a small refridgerator and comfortable bed with a sitting chair and desk, plus a TV. A door on the left wall as soon as I walked into the room opened to a small kitchen. I was not one to squander money on something better when the basics would do nicely.

An ironing board hung in the closet, which I figured I would make good use of for the next while. I used it to iron out my crumpled blazer, my uniform for school. I didn't have the trousers or a button down shirt to go underneath it; those had been burned, but I picked up very similar copies at Macy's. It would suffice for tomorrow. I also picked up some ointments and antibacterial sprays; after finding a mirror in the Macy's dressing room and having people stare at me constantly, I figure it was that bad. I stood in front of the mirror. It was past midnight; I needed to be quick about it lest I have another sleepless night.

Looking at my reflection, I almost threw up for the dozenth time that day. Most of my face was just one large bruise, and when I was just in my bra, I could see lacerations and dark purple bruises heavily covering my back and abdomen. I ached everywhere, and just moving was a chore, but I kept going. There wasn't much to do about my broken ribs, arm, or bruises, but I used the spray on lacerations and cuts to prevent infections, plus ointment in my eye for the same reason. I used ice to take down the swelling on my nose and thankfully much of the pain and all the blood had washed away in the shower. I had to thank Haruhi for realigning my nose, at least when I grew the lady-balls (A.K.A. Me putting it lightly) to talk to anybody else besides my reflection.

I guess only lonely people do that...

But I'm not lonely, just people-shy.

I wiped my sore eyes and did a quick breathing excercise to calm my already frayed nerves. I slipped into bed, and fell into dreamless sleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

The next day, I daresay, was much better; Haruhi and the twins were not in my first class, preparations for some club, I think. So I could breathe knowing I didn't have to talk to anyone immediately. Instead of sticking around the school, during my lunch break I went and had my hair cut. Once all the rough edges were cut, I realized that I did look like a feminine boy. It looked a lot like that blonde's hair I saw yesterday- Tamaki, was his name? only my locks were black. What remained was still silky, and most definitely managable. I thanked the barber and made it back to school so the teachers wouldn't think I was just skipping early. I went back to my locker to collect my books and readied myself for some serious shopping if I was going to make it through the rest of the year. Various numbers, stores, and fashion styles flitted through my head, but none of them would look quite as feminine as they would have with my old hair.

All my thoughts froze when I heard a familiar voice... that of a greasy, oily-skinned boy. I looked around the door to my locker, slammed it shut, turned foot and ran. They all laughed and gave chase, and I was at least ten paces ahead of them; if I had a conveniently located corner... like the one coming up right now! I rounded the corner, and opened the door as far from them as I could get before they rounded the corner. I locked the handle and sighed, dropping my bag and sinking to the floor, to resume my habit of covering my eyes with my palms. When I felt a feathery touch against my hand, I peeked through my fingers. Rose petals floated through the air, and there they stood.

"Welcome." they all said together.

"Only those with excellent social standing and those from filthy rich families are lucky enough to spend their time here at the elite private school, Ouran Academy. The Ouran Host Club is where the school's handsomest boys with too much time on their hands entertain young ladies who," he stopped to chuckle, "also have too much time on their hands. Just think of it as Ouran Academy's elegant playground for the super rich and beautiful!" cried the blonde, obviously very passionate about... erm... something just short of whoring. To put it kindly, of course.

"Oh wow. It's a boy!" said the twins in unison.

"Not just any boy. It's that one we took care of yesterday!" squealed a tiny kid with blonde hair and chocolate eyes.

"Hikaru, Kaoru, Haruhi. I believe this young man is in the same class as you, isn't he?" said a nerdy looking one with black hair and glasses.

"Yeah, but he's shy. He doesn't act very sociably, so we don't know much about him!"

Haruhi interjected. "D j vu..."

Everybody froze, and stared at me.

I fidgeted, grabbing my bag and hiding my face, relishing in the darkness that the cover provided. "Please let me stay here!" I squeaked into the bag. "They're looking for me...!" I had no idea what they all stopped and stared at me for, until the nerdy one spoke his next statement. "You aren't really a boy, are you?" he said, in a cool manner of tone. My tension was obviously detectable from my spot on the floor. "Of course I am! Don't be silly!" I laughed nervously, starting to get into the habit of sounding like one of those little rodents from Alvin and the Chipmunks. And yet, I had a feeling I was not fooling any of them. Well, maybe the tall blond. But he looked fairly simple minded in the first place...

Then Nerd asked me the last thing I would have expected.

"Would you like to join the Host Club?"

Nerd, which I soon learned his name was Kyoya Otori, listed off to me a number of reasons why I really had no choice. First, I bloodied their sofa and pillow, and he named a pretty high price. I could have easily paid for it, but he also said that considering the fact I was posing as a male, and was not a member of the club, I therefore was not allowed in there to run from my pursuers unless I accepted membership, which I did eagerly without thought...

Boy, I had no idea what I was getting into!

Kyoya told me the only reason he made the offer was because he figured I was not only not looking for a boyfriend, which would have ruined my cover, but I was also "quite a handsome young man underneath the bruises, a face that lives up to our standards. I have a previous picture of you without injuries and by photomanipulating your hair, I do believe once you heal that you will reign in quite a bit of business."

So he was basically a selfish bastard, but that was ok.

I often found myself curled up in a ball in the corner on weekdays from two to five, the hours in which the Host Club ran. Sometimes I read a book that Haruhi would bring me, or I would help Kyoya with numbers when he was busy. Either way, I had to haul my weight sometimes as long as I couldn't host yet. I was perfectly fine with that, and slowly learned everyone's names; the tall one with tanned skin and black hair was Mori, and the tiny one on his shoulder was Honey. Of course, Kyoya and Haruhi, and Tamaki was the dumb blond. Then the twins. I could usually tell them apart from their eyebrows; not that their eyebrows were different, but just the way in which they moved gave them different expressions so I could tell who was who. The one that had a kinder face and more toned down voice was Kaoru, and the louder, arrogant, and more carefree one was Hikaru. I didn't talk with them much. As a matter of fact, I didn't speak at all, really; occasionally, Haruhi and Kyoya spoke to me, but I wouldn't say anything back...

Until, a couple weeks after I met the Host Club, Haruhi asked me where I lived.

Having grown somewhat more comfortable around her (I found out she was a girl, like me, who just didn't like the dresses), I replied in my usual hoarse voice, "A motel... for now." This caught her attention, and she stopped sweeping up rose petals. "A motel? Why?" She cocked her head to the side, looking at me with the usual concern.

"I will be honest. I'm sorry, but I am not comfortable disclosing that with you right now."

She nodded. "I totally respect that."

Then there was Tamaki, who wasn't fooled at all, despite my meaningless hope. He would sweep about (albeit gracefully, but only half the time) with roses in his hands, and offer them to me by shoving them in my face and calling me his princess. His loud demeanor and actions always scared me out of my skin and either I would blush madly and hide behind my book (or hands, whatever was convenient) or I would run to another corner and pull my blazer up over my head to avoid looking at him. This would dishearten him, but as stubborn as he was, he would always try again in a little while.

And of course, there were less successful endeavors. I also found out the hard way that privacy didn't exist, not in the blue-blooded, elite, top-of-the-line Ouran High School Host club.

Kyoya kept files on absolutely everyone; no one was safe from his peering eyes and knowledgable ways, not even me. I discovered that he didn't have much beyond my physical statistics and parental history, but I still somewhat worried about that. But what was truly worrisome was that he had the address for the motel I was currently staying at; students were required to give updated information to administration in case of an emergency, and apparently this was one of the thing he could easily find merely by tapping a few keys.

Also, up until a certain point, I do believe that Kyoya and some teachers who actual cared to remember that I existed knew my name. I'm not sure when the rest of the Host Club noticed, but in one of Tamaki's usual efforts to enchant me, he asked me what my name was and the twins grew inquisitive also. I just repeated my usual routine, only I sat next to Haruhi on the new sofa, a place where I was starting to feel comfortable just because the others were so wired that they never sat. I did not give them my name, and Haruhi glanced out of the corner of her eye, obviously wondering, just like everyone else, who I was.

The next day, their question was answered with the most thoroughness. When I came upon the Host Club door, I could hear somewhat-muffled voices through them. I paused, my hand on the knob, and I withdrew, sitting next to the door to hear what they were saying. Kyoya spoke, in a rush, obviously to let out the information before I arrived.

"I have her statistics. Listen up." Rushing footsteps, probably crowding around his computer.

"Name: Ryceryn de Ria Age: 16 Birthday: June 21 Height: 6'0 Weight: 128 lbs.
Hair color: Black Eye color: Purple

Her parents owned the largest law firm in Asia. Died in a car crash three years ago, and left all their belongings to their only daughter, Ryceryn, who started living by herself recently when she came of age. Her old house also burnt down recently and she lives in a motel in the Kantou region. Drives a silver Harley Davidson and a matching Pagoni Zonda. So she is, as a matter of fact, NOT a commoner like you suspected. Actually, she's probably richer than any of us here. Her net worth could pay for her tuition here millions of times over, but she is here on scholarship."

The twins whistled, and Tamaki cried in fury, "HOW COULD ANYBODY BE THAT RICH? IT'S NOT RIGHT!"

Haruhi's voice answered him. "Tamaki-senpai, you're pretty damn rich yourself. It's nothing to whine about."

I stepped through the door startling the host club into movement. Tamaki ran about like the true idiot he was. The twins whistled in unison, innocently, and Haruhi blushed. Kyoya went back typing on his keyboard, while Honey shove cake in his face and sat atop Mori's shoulder. I grit my teeth, knowing that I would always be at the mercy of those who knew more about me than I wanted them to. I glanced at the usual suspects in turn. "I can totally understand that running the Host Club and being dirty rich makes you happy, and I really don't mind that. But nosing in my private affairs mildly irritates me, and in the end, your money won't buy you back what you miss the most."

Stunned silence. It didn't cease to amaze me.

And every one of them (with the exception of Kyoya) looked so damned ashamed. Even Mori hung his head.

The twins scratched opposing sides of their heads, looking like mirror images. Kyoya cleared his throat, and announced that we would be opening soon. I always just hung in the background when it came time to host, but today would be different. Kyoya addressed me. "Ryceryn. Today will be your first day hosting. Are you ready? Your type is "Shy Guy". I do believe you know enough thus far to understand how we do things here. You do have your notes, right?" I nodded dumbly, pulling my notepad out of my bag. "Good. However, your name is too-"

"Feminine. My nickname is Reese. Does that work?"

"It most definitely does."

"The Host Club is now ooooopen..." sang Tamaki with a flirty air, and girls just piled into the room. Tamaki stood before them, a dreamy look on his face. "Ladies, ladies. Settle down." He paused while the females all found seats around him. "Now. Today I have a very special announcement!" He grabbed me by the arm and drug me up next to him. I hid my face with my note pad. "Today we introduce our new type of host! The Shy Guy!" Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him flip his hair and some of the girls radiated hearts and roses and pink sparkles... which I found thoroughly amusing. I peeked over the legal pad. "OH, HE'S GORGEOUS!" yelled some girls, which elicited squees from the surrounding female audience. I just now realized what I was getting into.

A few minutes later, I was seated, with a horde of females cramping up my space. I couldn't help but blush madly, but no matter what I did that made me feel embarrassed, they all "oo'd" and "ah'd". A constant flow of hearts floated about their heads as they would constantly ask me questions with fangirl-crazy smiles on their faces.

"So, Reese, that's your name, right?"

I nodded.

"What's your favorite color?"

"U-uh... electric blue... I guess?"

Squeals.

"What are your favorite hobbies?"

I flipped through my notepad, blushing madly.

Awwwww's ensued.

"I-I-I... uh... I read...and... uh..."

Squeals.

"Do you like any of us?" said a chocolate eyed girl with big lips.

I blushed, more squeals.

"Well... yeah, I like you all. Very charming, and... pretty?"

Squeals. Hearts. Flowers. A couple girls fainted.

So that's pretty much how those three hours were spent. When we were done, and the girls filtered out, Tamaki was bawling. "How can she! I was upstaged by a GIRL! There were so many... around HER table..."

Kyoya smirked, greedy bastard he was. "Novelty fades with time. The girls will eventually settle down."

But it didn't seem like that was happening. If anything, more girls were at my table each day and even those who hadn't come to the host club before were there, sitting, squealing, and giggling because every other word that came out of my mouth was followed by a long set of ellipses.