I'm not exactly sure what I expected of Ouran Academy. I tried not to make it expect as much of me. I was dressed in the horribly girlish uniform they provided for female students, an A-line yellow dress with a pink ribbon on the collar, french braided my hair, and hoped for the best. I hadn't worn makeup since mother died. She always said a clean face was a happy face to persuade me to wash my face more consistently, but she wore little makeup herself. It just all seemed so pointless now. Clothes, hair, makeup. Those things used to matter when there was someone to impress. Here, at Ouran? Why bother trying to impress anyone. If someone was stupid enough to like me for the messed up, depressed, pathetic girl I'd become, it wouldn't matter if I was wearing a little blush. I clutched my purple velvet violin case to my chest, the ebony violin mother got me for my last birthday pulsing with my heartbeat. I never used a backpack, not even in New York. All I need in school is my violin, phone, wallet, keys, and a pencil or two, all of which easily fit into my violin case.

I climbed the dozen or so steps to the school's entrance and took a deep breath, whispering in my head for mother to help me through this day. "Use your angel wings," I whispered to her, "take me out of here. I don't belong here." A breeze lifted my skirt and I smiled, my mother's reply speaking for itself. Being strong is something I didn't have a choice over anymore. I closed my eyes for one last moment of relief, and prepared myself to walk through the doors of Ouran Academy when a wind blew me off my feet. It was a force of three running figures that caused me to lose my footing as I'd distracted myself.

Caught off guard, I began to fall backwards down the marble steps, but before I had time to react, a hand reached out and caught my wrist, pulling me back up into the arms of a slender blonde boy with violet eyes. "So sorry, princess!" He said, out of breath. The sweet-takling blonde looked over his shoulder angrily and shook his fist at a pair of ginger-haired twins hiding behind a column, "You nimrods almost made me push this poor girl down the stairs! Do you see what your antics lead to! It's about time you've realized how your actions affect others, why I'd never-"

The twins suddenly appeared on either side of the blonde. "Sorry." They said in unison.

The blonde stuck his hands on his hips. "You're sorry! How can you think that that would-?"

"Oh shut up boss, we don't need your lecture." Said the one on the right.

"Yeah we weren't trying to kill her, it was an accident." Said the one on the left as they shrugged simultaneously.

The three continued to squabble and I was at a loss for words. "Um, excuse me?" I said meekly. They stopped mid-battle and looked over at me, "Look, I'm fine, but thanks for saving me from taking a tumble there." I chuckled half-heartedly.

The blonde put his hand under his chin, scrutinizing me, "I don't believe I've ever seen you before. I'd recognize those beautiful eyes and your thick American accent." He lifted up my chin with his index finger, and giggled while I blushed instinctively, "What's your name, madame?"

Embarrassed I sidestepped so that I was facing the three of them - and I was away from the stairs - "Marilyn. I moved here from America, so I'm sorry my Japanese isn't very good."

"Actually your Japanese is good since you just moved here." The twins said at the same time. I raised an eyebrow, how on earth did they do that? They were very identical, so symmetrical it was almost comical. The twin on the left picked u my braid and played with it, "Pretty cute, too."

The one on the right with a higher brow-bone and a slightly rounder face leaned on the blonde boy, "So where in America are you from?" He asked as he played with the bow on my uniform.

"New York City." I said shyly. The three clapped for a few moments, dumbfounded as schoolboys, and I burst out laughing before I could stop myself. It'd been a long time since I laughed, but it erupted from my throat like a secret I'd been dying to tell. It was rich and whole-hearted and true.

Tamaki's grin stretched the skin on either side of his face more than I think humanly possible. "What's New York like! I heard there's elephants roaming in the streets and more hot dog carts than one could imagine! Oh and is it true that there's all kinds of crazy people running around with things to sell for cheap?"

"Uh, some of it's true! But truthfully, it's nothing compared to Tokyo. Anyway, what're your names?" I asked, wiping the first tears of joy I'd had in months from my eyes.

The blonde stepped forward, offering a rose, "I'm Suoh, but I just know we're going to be close indeed so you may call me Tamaki!" He was practically blushing with excitement as I accepted the rose and determined that flattery must be his niche. "I'm also president and co-founder of the host club, which I hope you'll be kind enough to visit regularly!" I put down my violin case. Host club? Didn't I read about that once? Where a bunch of boys sit around and entertain paying guests whilst pretending to have a romantic relationship with them that is far from actually existent? Please.

"We're Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin." Said the twins with devilish grins, "Can you guess which is which?" One winked.

Tamaki sighed, "Isn't it much too soon for the 'which one is Hikaru' game?"

"Well if I had to guess I'd say the one on my right is Hikaru and the one on my left is Kaoru." I said confidently. I just had a feeing.

The twins looked at each other, and Tamaki's jaw dropped, "She wasn't right, was she! On her first try!" The twins shellshocked looks told me that I was correct, and that this didn't happen often.

Kaoru laughed, "Well I'll be damned. You're the second person to ever tell us apart right away, Marilyn. Impressive. Very impressive." Only the second? How could no one tell them apart? The subtle differences in their faces, their voices, seemed pretty clear to me. Their attitudes were nothing alike as well. While they were both mischievous, Hikaru seemed braver and more daring, while Kaoru seemed more sensible and passionate. Mother always said I had a knack for understanding people before they understood me. She never said it like it was a good thing... but she said it none the less.

Hikaru smiled, "We're members of the host club that this idiot runs," Tamaki's cheeks grew red in anger, but Kaoru pushed his face away, "So if you do stop by..." They both leaned in towards me and spoke simultaneously, a habit that confused and terrified me, "Make sure to request us first." Then they appeared on either side of me and blew the tiniest burst of air into my ears. I jumped nervously. "Aw, how cute!" Hikaru said, "A shy one. Don't see many of those anymore." He observed, looking at Kaoru, who nodded.

Tamaki pulled his fingers through his hair effortlessly, "Regardless I do hope that someone as kind as you makes a stop in the host club quite soon. You are quite a breath of fresh air." Tamaki took my hand and spun me, and I clumsily stumbled.

I blushed, putting a loose curl behind my ear, "I don't know about a host club, it doesn't sound like my style. But maybe I'll see you in classes?"

Tamaki sighed, "I'm a second year."

The twins perked up, "We're first years! Show us your schedule!" They demanded, tearing it from my hands. I giggled.

As they circled the classes we had together in a pen Kaoru had whipped out of nowhere, Tamaki picked up my violin case, "An aspiring musician, hm?" I shrugged. I loved the violin, and I'd been playing all my life. It started when moter went through a classical-music-phase and we took mother-daughter violin lessons. She quit after a week, but allowed me to continue lessons privately, as I had a surprising talent for it. My recitals were the hardest things I ever had to do, as I hated playing in front of anyone aside from mother and my teacher. Mother would sit in the front row and buy me flowers and look me straight in the eyes while I played. Her gaze would never stray from me, even while her eyes brimmed with tears. Remembering this, I nodded more confidently. I didn't mind if this strange and flattering boy thought I was some kind of serious musician, although I could never imagine it. Aren't dreams of being a concert violinist usually the kind that almost always fall through? Tamaki lit up with excitement. "How quaint! I don't mean to brag but I am a musician myself," He stood taller and the twins rolled their eyes, meaning he most likely did mean to brag. "I'm a pianist, but that's nothing compared to the beauteous sound of a string instrument. You must play something for us!"

Suddenly the twins burst with joy, "Yes, you must!"

I shook my head briskly and gently took my case back from Tamaki, "No, really, I am quite shy... but it was really nice meeting you guys! I should head to class or something. Good luck in your host club! I'll see you around!"

As I turned off my heel walked away I was consumed with thoughts of embarrassment. Twenty minutes at Ouran and I'd already humiliated myself in front of three handsome boys. As I was out of earshot ,I had no idea that as I nervously looked through my schedule trying to figure out where my French class was, the boys were waving behind me.

Kaoru murmured, "Well that's no fun. She's different than the other girls."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Asked Hikaru.

Kaoru shrugged, "I don't know. I like her, though. She reminds me of someone"

"Me too." Hikaru agreed.

And then Tamaki flashed them a smile. "Don't worry, men. I'm almost positive we'll see her again very soon."

The twins looked over at him, "Well yeah, we will, we have most of our classes with her." They stated in unison.

"You know that isn't what I mean. I'm talking about the host club!" Said Tamaki, spinning and posing dramatically.

"I don't think so, milord. She seemed pretty skeptical" Observed Hikaru.

But Tamaki smiled and shook his head, "There are some things a king just knows. And the most important thing a king knows is that when it's destined to be, it will be. I know for a fact that Marilyn was meant to cross our paths."

The twins punched him in the arms, "Don't call yourself king."

But Tamaki wasn't wrong. I had no idea that I would come face to face with these boys again, and that I would in fact find out more about the host club than I ever imagined. I had no idea what an important part of my life it would become either, but alas, all of these things would happen in time.