Chapter 2
Day 1: Missed Cell Phone Call

Today just had to be the day that Kaoru left without me and without telling the driver. He'd done this before on accident. I think it was that he misunderstood what I said. I guess I wasn't too clear that day. It annoys me when that happens. It annoys me even more when the weather decides to change on me and a steady down pour starts up without warning. With the way things are going, it reminds me of really cliché romance movies or fan-fiction. That seems about right. At least Kaoru wont get soaked then sick.

I guess I was standing outside longer then I thought. The rain is starting to soak though even my jacket. I can feel shivers run though me as I think even more about what to do. Reaching into my pocket and pulling out my cell phone, I debate if I want to call my brother. Mother and Father are out of the question as Mother's on a business trip and Father obediently followed for whatever reason. He is a good man, though. I'll give him that.

The wind is starting to pick up as the small charm on the cell swings around even more. Kaoru's my best bet right now. I almost reluctantly run my thumb over the button for the speed dial to call him. He's first on it. Finally I punch his number in slowly, and just before I push the call button, I hear a voice I really don't want to. Snapping the phone shut as soon as I hear my name in Tono's voice, I can feel my face heat up just a bit as I look at the phone a little frustrated. I'm mostly looking at the charm I got from Kaoru. When he got me the thing, I just had to get him a matching one. I wonder if it's still on his phone…

"Hikaru!" Tono's probably been calling my name a least three or four times. I quickly shove the cell into my pocket and decide not to greet him in my normal way. I'm just not in the mood. All I do is sigh to myself and turn toward him, wrapping my jacket around me tighter. It's either getting colder or the rain is starting to soak into even my bones. I'm taking a nice hot bath when I get home.

Tono finally caught up to me as we stand near the front gate of Ouran. I'm envious of that umbrella he has. It's apparently noticeable, too, as he steps forward more and holds the thing over both of us. I'm not even looking at him anymore. I don't want to. All I want to see is my brother, but I can't because I apparently did something to make him mad at me. Tono can sense my dismay and comfortingly (to him) puts a hand on my shoulder. Am I really that easy to read? I just push his hand off and continue to avoid eye contact with him.

"Hikaru, are you still waiting for your driver?" He finally speaks up and it's just a stupid question. I don't answer him for a moment and just look down the road that leads away from the high school. I'm still stuck there when I answer.

"No, Tono," I sound melancholy, and for good reason. At least I think so. This is the first time Kaoru has ever done something like this and for once I'm not entirely sure what he's thinking. I always have at least an idea of what we're going to do; what we should do. For once, I don't know what's going on. I don't know what to do about anything. "I just don't know…"

I didn't mean to verbalize my thoughts, but I did. Tono obviously heard it, and (I don't know how) he seems to know that I do know that the driver isn't coming and that I don't know what to do about much of anything. Especially Kaoru. My brother told me that I have a horrible time controlling my emotions and throw them around like a kid. I never really took that into consideration, and never planned on it. Besides, there's nothing wrong with being blunt on how you feel about someone or something. Why else would I act the way I do? I spend so much time with Haruhi because I like her. It's the same thing with Kaoru. I don't understand why he's acting the way he is. He looked so upset by something I don't even know what I did. I don't want him to ever look like that again. But I can't do anything if I don't know what the problem is!

"Well, come on, then."

"Huh?" Am I really getting that distracted by this whole thing that I'm oblivious to my surroundings? Tono's driver is already here and Tono is already halfway into the car, beckoning me to join him. I look away for a moment deciding if I should catch a ride with him or bother my brother. I don't think Kaoru wants to hear me, let alone come get me. He did that last time, though. He drove with one of our drivers and when they got here, before the car even stopped, Kaoru jumped out and rushed over to me hugging me like there's no tomorrow. With him almost crying, I just laughed it off and said it was all right as long as he was sorry and didn't do it again.

Tono calls out my name again. God, I am getting distracted by all of this. It's not worth it to tell Tono to just go on and just hope Kaoru would at least send a driver. If he really is pissed at me, then he would just leave me out here. A sudden gust of wind chills me again and I run over to the car and somewhat clumsily get inside the warm vehicle. I can feel him staring at me as I mope in the backseat next to him. Hopefully it won't take too long to get home; I don't want to be stuck here with Tono for the rest of the evening.

"You still seem a bit upset, Hikaru." Really? I thought I was totally over it now… "What do you think you did to upset your dear brother?"

"If I knew that," I'm gritting my teeth tightly and holding back the urge to harm my only reliable ride home. "I wouldn't be here right now worrying about it, would I, Tono?" I turn toward him and glare in his direction. He seems to get the point.

"I-I see," I relax, if only a little, and fumble around with the phone charm in my pocket. All it is, is a small brown, almost orange monkey that Kaoru said it reminds him of me. I don't get why. I also don't know why I use it. I guess it is knida cute, but charms are usually something girls would use aren't they? Whatever. It's not like the one I got him is any better. It's almost the same color, but a small bird with little blush circles under its big dark eyes. The brand is the same as mine so they look similar.

An awkward silence had decided to settle between us as I continue to stare at nothing and feel the small charm between my fingers. My scarf around my neck half covers my face, hiding most of my emotion from Tono next to me. That feeling of him looking at me burns into my skull. I hate that feeling. The only one who can do that without making me feel uncomfortable is my brother.

"Tono," I'm not as pissed off as earlier, and I can tell the scarf around my neck and my head position muffles my voice. I can sense Tono being concerned and a little surprised. I continue after a small pause to see if he has anything to say. He doesn't. "Do you know what I did to get Kaoru mad at me?" It's a sincere question. One I can't figure out myself.

This question seems to throw him off. He stutters for a moment then silences himself to think. I can only assume he doesn't know either. But his guess is probably better then mine. I really just can't think.

"I'm not sure," He finally says. It's not what I want to hear. I want an answer; a real answer. Something I could go on for the moment and see if it's true. But when you start with a problem and nothing to help support you, you're screwed until something shows up. I don't want to wait. I want some answers now. "I'm sure things will turn for the better soon. You two have a special bond not a lot of people have. I'm sure whatever it is, Kaoru will forgive you sooner or later."

I find myself looking at him, stunned that Tono said that. It's just like him to say that, to make things sound like everything will be okay. I always know Kaoru will forgive me; at least that's what I want to believe. Maybe Haruhi was right about him wanting to prove a point. What I don't understand is what his point is and what I did to provoke him to have to make such a point.

"I hope so."