Chapter Three; One (Un)Happy Family
I was enjoying a very comfortable sleep on the huge bed, when I felt blankets being ripped off of me and bright lights intruding my eyelids.
"Hey!" I snapped at the offender.
"Rise and shine!" A stranger's voice chirped and I jumped right up.
A mid-twenties looking girl stared at me with an extremely disturbing smile on her face.
"Who are you?" I questioned, looking at her skeptically.
She smiled even more brightly, if that was possible, "I'm Jamie! But you'll know me as your own personal maid!"
She seemed overjoyed as she said the last two words that I too was reeling about.
I shook off my shock, "Why do I need a maid? I'm a prisoner, remember?"
She shrugged, still scarily chipper, "Imprisonment is no excuse to not look your best, or be late for school.
I groaned, "School?"
She nodded frantically, "Now get up, sour puss! I wanna have enough time to fix you!"
Cause that wasn't insulting at all.
"I'm fully capable of getting ready by myself. " I grumbled, standing up.
She giggled, "Don't be ridiculous. Kyoya insisted that everyone treats you with the utmost respect and tolerance. It would be rude to allow you to dress yourself."
That whole reply made no sense whatsoever.
I sighed in defeat, "Fine! But I'm not letting you see me naked."
Jamie smoldered at me, "Don't be shy, baby."
My jaw dropped in disbelief and I took a reflexive step back from my potentially perverse maid.
She brushed off my response with a tinkling laugh, "I'm only joking Miss Utonium. Calm down."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding in and hesitantly walked toward Jamie.
"Okay then, fix me." I growled, putting as much venom as possible into the word.
She smiled blindingly again, "I thought you'd never ask!"
She dragged me to the bathroom where she literally tore off my clothes and tossed me in the tub, turning the water on full blast.
"You've got five minutes!" She sang, temporarily leaving the room.
I scrubbed vigorously at my hair, marveling briefly over the strawberry scented shampoo. I rinsed and repeated the action with conditioner, proceeding to scrub my body with the blue luffa that had been suctioned onto the wall.
Much too soon, Jamie skipped in, a towel draped over her arm.
She threw the towel at me and I hurriedly wrapped it around myself.
The rest of my preparation was a blur. She dried my hair, brushed it savagely (causing me to wince in pain every other second), pulled it into high pigtails, and dressed me in an ankle length yellow dress, white stockings, and shiny black flats. When she pulled out the makeup, though, I refused to let it touch me, much to Jamie's disappointment.
She gave a loud huff once she finished and frowned at me, "Well... it'll have to do."
I grimaced at her resigned tone, making a mental note not to let her bluntness get to me.
"So... is there a bus or do I walk there?" I asked, growing tired of her displeased looks.
She laughed, "Don't be silly, Miss Utonium! You'll be riding with Master Kyoya in his limo, of course."
I balled my hands into fists, trying not to let my resentment show, "Alright then, where's the exit?"
She seemed wary by the way I phrased it, "Follow me, Miss."
I nodded and let her lead me down the stairs and to a gigantic door where Kyoya was waiting, writing in that black book again.
Jamie disappeared the second he came into view.
"Good morning Bubbles." Kyoya said, without looking up from his notebook.
"Yeah its been just freakin' peachy." I said acidly.
He smirked, "Jamie's new, I trust she wasn't too much of an inconvenience."
"I wouldn't say that." I mumbled bitterly.
We walked to the sleek black limousine that was waiting at the curb for our arrival.
"Mornin' Mr. Ootori, Ms. Ootori." The driver said gruffly, starting the car once we were inside.
"Excuse me?" I hissed, turning to glare at Kyoya,
He met my gaze, completely unabashed, "I had to come up with an excuse for you coming to and from school with me every day. So, you're my cousin. Welcome to the family Bubbles Ootori."
"This is ridiculous." I muttered spitefully.
He sighed, "Unfortunately for you, it's necessary. So I'd advise you to make the best of it."
I wanted to argue. I wanted to kick and scream until someone was kind or curious enough to investigate the source of the commotion. But, the sad truth was... it was way too early for that crap.
Instead of the temper tantrum I so desperately wanted to dish out, I leaned against the limo's plush seat and closed my eyes.
"Do you think that's wise?" Kyoya asked suddenly, jerking me out of my relaxed state.
"Huh?" I questioned, confused.
"Dropping your guard in a confined, soundproof space with the man who kidnapped you. Not a very smart move." He yawned.
I shrugged, not letting his words frighten me, "If you planned on trying anything, you would have done so already."
"Maybe that's what I want you to think." He mused.
I rolled my eyes, "Or maybe you're trying to make me grow more fearful of you so I'll be less inclined to attempt escaping. Not going to work, sorry."
From the bewildered expression on his face, I was guessing he thought I was a dumb blonde. I frowned as I realized I should of kept up that facade so he wouldn't expect me to think of any brilliant ways of getting away. Maybe I was dumb, in a sense.
"We've arrived, sir, ma'am." The driver announced as the vehicle came to a slow stop.
"Thank you, Jeffrey." Kyoya said, grabbing his book bag and sliding out.
I followed his example, noticing for the first time that a blue bag had been placed in the seat next to me.
Once I stood up and took a few quick steps after Kyoya, a thought crossed my mind. I could run for it.
Kyoya seemed be able to detect the sudden adrenaline rush I had gotten once I started to consider the prospect.
He was behind me in a quick flash of movement, his hand on the small of my back, guiding me into the gigantic building.
"You could- and probably will- try to run. You'll have more opportunities than I'd like to admit. But, know that you will be tracked down each and every time you manage to escape and you will always be brought back." He informed me, his glasses shielding any emotion he might of felt.
"You get some sick pleasure out of having me in your control, don't you?" I growled, narrowing my eyes at him.
Kyoya's lips pulled up at the corners slightly, "Perhaps."
I clenched my teeth together to keep from spitting a particularly nasty word at him.
Through my fury, I vaguely noticed heads turning to gawk at us.
"What's their problem?" I asked, once I had calmed down slightly.
He shrugged, "You'll find out at the end of the day."
Ugh, just another thing that would claim my short attention span.
We approached a door that hung wide open and my stomach started doing nauseating little flips. I was a little surprised that I had the capacity to be nervous.
"I'm going to puke." I whispered, matter-of-fact-ly.
He remained silent as he led me into the room.
"Kyoya, can I help you?" The teacher asked at once.
He offered her a smile as he placed a friendly hand on my shoulder. I fought the urge to shake it off.
"This is my cousin, Bubbles Ootori. She'll be living with me from now on and she's joining your class. I wanted to make sure she didn't get lost."
Translation; I wanted to make sure she didn't flee from the school.
The teacher smiled warmly, "How nice of you! I'll take it from here. Welcome to my class Bubbles."
I forced myself to smile back at her, "Thank you ma'am."
Kyoya walked out then and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
The teacher looked at the rest of the class, all of who were openly staring at me.
"Bubbles, why don't you sit next to Haruhi? He's right behind the twins." She said, pointing at a brunette that was gaping at me.
I nodded and cautiously walked to my newly assigned seat, not wanting to trip or stumble.
The teacher started a lecture on how to appropriately distinguish elements and I felt a brief flutter of satisfaction when I realized I'd already studied that at my old school.
I leaned back in my seat and let my gaze wander to the window.
"ADD acting up again, Bubbles?" I could picture my oldest sister, Blossom, saying, her voice strict and disapproving.
"Ditz." I could hear my other sister Buttercup snickering.
I ignored the familiar scene my mind had set up. They technically sold me to a stranger, they didn't deserve to take place in my daydreams.