I've never been in a more awkward situation.

For an agonizing 13 hour plane ride I was going to have to to sit next to the poor kid I smacked in the face. I tried mumbling a few apologies but I only received his cold shoulder. Couldn't he see how hard I was trying?! I almost cried.

However, I did, obviously, feel bad for the guy. I'd managed to get a name out of him through persistence: Hunter. I was a little surprised; all of the Hunters that I knew were buff and beyond stupid jock types but this one was lanky, wore glasses and had all his features absolutely peppered in freckles. I also noticed he was in the Ouran boys uniform.

IS HE GOING TO MY NEW SCHOOL?! Oh the humanity! The first classmate I've met despises me. I cry. Internally of course.

He glanced at me. My internal panic had been found out.

"...Sorry."

WHAT?! An apology? I was so confused. This was the same boy I'd just hit in the face right?

I blinked slowly as he pushed his index fingers together, avoiding my gaze with a light blush dusted on his cheeks.

"I-I didn't mean to yell…"

"A-ah.." I stuttered. I had no idea how I should respond sensibly, but I did blurt something out regardless. My name of all things.

He blinked, "... Elena? That's your name…?"

"Y-yes."

"... I-Im Hunter- well Hunter Ahrens." he mumbled, offering his hand while sporting a brighter blush though he did try to hide it. He was just like a tsundere. Oh god he was making a mistake extending his hand to a weirdo like me.

I took his hand and gave it a firm shake with a smile. Since he was going to Japan with me I thought it'd be clever to respond in Japanese. Also cus' I sucked and needed more practice before we arrived. I took a deep breath and spoke as best as I could.

"K-Konnichiwa… Watashi wa Atwood Elena desu."

… … … … … … … … … … … … … The Next Day… … … … … … … … … … … … …

I must have dozed off somewhere along the journey. I let a small groan slip past my lips and felt a… tense? Was my seat alive? Maybe I was still dreaming and my seat was a giant cat or something. … ya maybe I do need to get the ol' noggin checked.

"A-Ah…"

A nervous voice? Ok so my seat was alive? I adjusted my gaze as blinked at the poor sap beside me. I guess I'd fallen asleep against Hunter's shoulder cus' my god he was redder than a sunburnt tomato. Even though that would be brown. Or dead.

He looked away and I sat up abruptly. Now it was just getting awkward. How could I just sleep on a stranger? I glanced over at him as he adjusted his tie repeatedly.

Yup, I definitely broke him.

I was just about to apologize when I felt the plane bounce. My worst fears had been realized. WE WERE GOING TO CRASH! I was just about ready to scream before a voice came on the little intercom over our seats.

"Ladies and Gentleman this is your captain speaking, we have just arrived at Haneda Airport, Tokyo International terminal. Please unbuckle your seatbelts and carefully make your way off the aircraft with any carry on luggage. We hope you have a wonderful stay in our fair city."

I blinked as the message replayed several times in different languages. Five students stood up, all wearing Ouran uniforms. I even saw Savannah who had been on board with me the whole time. I think she looked at me.

There were so many different people on board, it was quite a group we had going. I was in such awe that I didn't realize Hunter had been dragging me toward the others. I blinked and glanced at him.

"... Ah… I'm sorry about falling asleep on you."

"... don't worry about it." he mumbled, smiling softly.

I could feel a smile take over as I nodded, following him off the jet. We stepped off on the exit and a warm breeze caught my hair. Even though it was winter, it felt so sunny.

I gazed off at many different limousines parked along the parking lot just beyond the runway, families waiting with them, probably hosts for us exchange students. Though they were holding signs, I personally couldn't pick out mine at such a distance let alone spot Mr. Suoh out of the crowd.

Instead, all of the students were corralled off the jet and into a little bundle. Some of the kids wore their uniforms, but I wasn't alone in my non school attire. The others had begun introducing themselves, like that circle thing you do in elementary school. Or that's what I did as a young blood.

Alfie Xavier Clark was an extremely British boy. He had light brown, curly brown hair and oh god mint green eyes that could kill. I knew from the beginning he was gonna be popular with how bubbly he was.

Emalie Bleier was a German exchange student from Stuttgart and god she was pretty too. She had deep brunette hair and matching chocolate eyes. She managed to flaunt her thick accent too.

Kallias- I couldn't quite catch his last name because his english made me cringe- was Greek. Despite his speech sounding like he was gargling marbles, he seemed pretty nice. However I was too stuck on how he and Alfie could have legitimately been twins. Though Kallias's hair was more black and eyes more hazel- it didn't matter!

Finally there was Lívia Rego. She was Brazilian with looong black hair. I kid you not it went past her butt. And not only had she practically mastered Japanese, she even spoke Spanish and Portuguese.

Hunter, Savannah and I all came from America and, naturally, stuck together. However, I was completely wonderstruck by the other kids. They were all unbelievably talented and had accomplished so much in so few years. I wanted so badly to be able to stand on their level.

But I couldn't. And I realized that when I was asked what I wanted to accomplish by attending Ouran Academy.

"... I-I…"

They all stared at me encouragingly.

"... I-I… want to make a friend."

I could feel my own hopes waver as a few snorts cut through the brief silence. Everyone else broke into conversations and I'd realized I'd blown my chance. Maybe I just wasn't cut out for this sort of thing. Maybe I was stupid to believe things would change just because I was in a different country.

Suddenly I heard my name, called out from the crowd.

I spun and saw Mr. Suoh, waving me over. I waited a moment before leaving behind the other students, though I could feel someone's gaze on my back as I hurried away…

The drive to the Suoh Estate was just one long debriefing. Naturally, being the Chairmen of the school and all, Mr. Suoh wanted me to understand everything that happened or was going to happen at Ouran. I even got an encyclopedia that he claimed to be the original student handbook but I didn't believe him. I could've killed someone with that thing!

When we pulled up to the manor another limousine was outside. Yea this family was crazy rich. The manor itself just screamed high society, not to mention the additional green acreage surrounding the home.

I was escorted out to of the limo by maids who then lined the passage to the front door. A butler, well two, opened the doors for me. They must have had a 7 foot man living there because even a guy like that could pass through comfortably. This place was literally the craziest place I'd ever seen.

But it was what was behind the doors that would fascinate me far more.

When the doors opened a breeze flew past me, fluttering my dress around my legs and my over my shoulders. I stared on as a boy inside turned to meet my waiting gaze.

A yellow blond boy with violet eyes blinked back at me. And that's when my heart stopped.

I felt the Chairmen pat my shoulder and I watched him talk but no words resonated. At least, his words couldn't surpass the sheer beating of my own heart. I watched as the Chairmen patted the boy's shoulder and mumbled some words to his waiting ears. However, the boy didn't remove his gaze from me. The only phrase that really rendered with me was "this is my son: Tamaki."

Then the Chairmen left. We were alone in the home's foyer. Oh geez. Crap.

Is this what people call love at first sight?

I caught Tamaki's smile as he started to approach me. My heart skipped a beat and I could feel sweat bead on my forehead as he leaned down toward me. AHHH! I couldn't take it! I had to say something- anything!

"I-I… a-ah…"

But he had stopped me before I could. As he straightened up, positioning one hand over his chest and the other arm folded behind his back, he gave me a brief bow and spoke.

"Welcome to the Suoh Manor, Miss Atwood."

M-Miss… Atwood…? I was definitely gonna faint at this rate. I knew I must have looked just as flustered as I felt because he gave me a sort of concerned look. I was totally ruining this opportunity! But, despite it all, he politely continued.

"My name is Tamaki- I don't mind if you call me by my first name since we'll be living together. But I do have one favor to ask…" he mumbled, glancing away as he loosened his uniform's tie.

"Y-yes?!" I blurted out hastily. Ah hell- I'm a wreck.

"I need…" he paused for a moment before meeting my gaze once more, "I want you to stay away from me."

. . . Eh? I felt my heart throb and shoot up into my throat as he turned his back to me coldly.

"Please Miss Atwood, I urge you to keep your residence here a secret and… I would appreciate if you considered us as perfect strangers…"

His words were like a knife in my heart. What had I done…? I gave his back a slow nod before he left me, alone in the foyer. I felt my shoulders slump and my gaze fall. Not even my host family wanted me around… I could feel the lump in my throat swell and my eyes water.

This was going to be the worst semester of my life.

Tamaki just tore out the heart of a fine maiden?! That's not very hostly! But he's got his reasons... buuuut you'll have to wait for the next chapter to find out! Sorry that this chapter took literally forever to come out but at least it's here now!Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

Stay creative my friends~