Sakura Kisses

Chapter 6: You're Okay

It had been a few weeks since Ana's arrival, and this day almost went by normally. Emphasize the almost. Etsuko was now paired up with Anastasia in their culinary class. And… our girl wasn't too happy.

"You just need to pick the recipe and figure out the quantity and how many of each ingredient we'll need. I'll do all the work." Etsuko said dully, pulling up her hair and fixing her apron.

"No, I'd like to help!" Anastasia had insisted. Etsuko let out a new sigh, and leaned back up against the counter.

"Listen, I know you're new. And I know you're trying to make friends. But I also know rich girls. Most fake their kindness and then bite you in the butt." Suko paused to think for a moment. "Sorry if that sounded rude, but I've had a rough time with richies and find it hard to trust you guys."

"I understand. I guess we've gotten our stereotypes." Anastasia said quietly, looking down.

"You'll soon see why I easily made this assumption." She started to wash her hands. "I'm Kawasaki Etsuko, by the way. And have you decided what to make yet?"

"What about… an almond and lemon biscoti dipped in white chocolate and vanilla ice cream drizzled in warm caramel on the side?" She showed Etsuko the ingredients and mathematics.

"Hmm… why not." She took the recipe, and started to work. These rich people liked their food… and so did she. After having the biscoti in the oven, she was working on the caramel. "Please go grab the vanilla ice cream." Should be simple enough for Ana to handle.

"What's your name, by the way?" Anastasia asked as she placed down the container of ice cream. That had changed the way Suko thought of Ana. Okay, so she still wasn't going to be best friends with her. But, this did change a bit of the first 'evil rich girl' assumption.

"Kawasaki Etsuko." She said simply, going to plate the food. Good thing it was only for the teacher and them.

"Anastasia Groves." She responded.

"I already know. And I'm just going to call you Ana, it's easier."

"Most people do." Ana added as Suko was plating the food. Ana quietly took one of them from Etsuko's hand, and watched as Suko went to hand in their assignment. As Suko came back, she noticed Ana's eyes.

"Is it that bad?"

"O-Oh! No! It's better than the ones my chef's cook at home." Ana said as she continued to eat hers politely and daintily.

Etsuko watched her for a few moments, then back at herself (who was stuffing her face) and back at Ana. Suko never considered herself a 'dainty' girl. Slowly ceasing to eat, she started to clean up. After a few minutes, Ana started to help also.

"You don't have to help if you don't want to." Etsuko said again, a bit dry.

"No, I want to." Ana continued to clean, sweeping off the counter with a napkin. And if I said Etsuko wasn't surprised by this, I'd be lying.

X X X

"So, you're in the club too?" Etsuko asked a bit surprised.

"Yeah, didn't know you were in here too…" Ana started. "I haven't seen you here."

"That's because I have work and had been engulfed in the evil clutches of homework." With a laugh, Etsuko opened the door… only to be glomped by Hunny.

"I missed you!" He cried as he pulled away to hug Usa-chan.

"…You just missed the cake, didn't you?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"I missed you too!" Hunny quickly added, running back to his seat.

"Yeah, I think he just missed the cake." A laughing Haruhi shook her head.

"Ana! Suko!" And another blonde blur had attached himself to the girls.

"Hello to you too, Sempai." Ana giggled, a faint blush across her cheeks forming.

'Ohoho, what do we have here?' Was what Suko would've been thinking… if she wasn't too busy pinching Tamaki's hand.

"Get off of me before I kick your skinny rich boy bum." Hunny was near; she'd refrain from cussing.

Tamaki pulled away, slightly aghast. "Momma! Our daughter is rebelling again!"

"I'm seventeen and already have 5 children… where has my youth gone?" He asked in his oh-so-bored tone of voice, continuing to type on his keyboard.

Ana giggled again, walking over to the piano to start playing for the guests that were arriving soon. Etsuko dropped off Hunny's cakes, and Mori's tea. She had the feeling she would be busy and wouldn't be able to stop by so much.

"Thank you." Mori nodded with a faint smile.

"Not a problem." She hummed happily, opening the doors so the guests could enter. And cue the squealing, overly-emotional, rich schoolgirls. Soon, Etsuko's mood will not only be gone, but drained. She silently told herself she needed a vacation.

Etsuko was always a whiner. She wouldn't like to admit it, but she was. She knew that there were more people out there with worse lives than her, but she had a tough time with remembering that. Sometimes, she'd start whining and not even realize it until after it's been said and done.

A few more moments of cleaning and serving, she went felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around with an arched eyebrow, she saw one of the girls that had been causing a bit of trouble at the club. Oh, this would be fun.

"Yes?" Etsuko barely got out, before being overwhelmed by this girls loud shriek of a voice.

"Why are you still here? You got Suki-sama kicked out!"

"Suki-san got herself kicked out, thank you very much." She stated evenly. "If she didn't dump-" Suko was cut off by water being dumped on her head. Blinking dumbly, Suko watched as Ana stomped over.

"What do you think you're doing? This girl has helped and served you throughout these few weeks! If you don't appreciate it, or have a complaint, take it up with Tamaki-sempai. Quit trying to take things into your own hands!" When Ana was mad, Ana was mad. She reminded Etsuko somewhat of a mother bear trying to take care of her cubs. "Mori-sempai!" Ana suddenly barked.

Out of nowhere, Etsuko was lifted into the air and into Mori's arms. "Hey, I can walk."

"But you may try to run away. Tamaki wants you fitted for tomorrow's theme." The Wild Type stated.

Suko knew that there was no way she would be able to argue with this man. He was too quiet, too tall, and too… handsome. Etsuko will admit; she was a bit attracted to this guy. And it didn't help that he was tall, adding to the hotness factor. Quickly, she shook her head. Bad Etsuko, it's not right to think about your upperclassmen in that way!

"Are you okay?" He looked down to see the girls face dazed, along with being slightly red.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine!"

X X X

So, the day ended with Etsuko getting fitted, the club members going home, and Anastasia packing up her things.

"Ana?" The brunette-haired girl called while walking out of the changing room, now in her regular clothes.

"Ah, yes?" Ana bit her lip and tugged at her skirt.

"You're okay." With those parting words, Etsuko lazily waved and headed down to meet her little brother.

But our heroine had left a very important item behind: her house keys.

OMGGGG. IT HAS BEEN FOREVER. I AM SORRY. AGAIN. I know I probably sound so friggen annoying with all these sorry's and all, and that it seems that I haven't been doing anything about it, but I have something called homework all the time. Seriously. I'm in AP classes, and I know that sounds... amazing, like it couldn't be true, but I am. So hence the slow updates.

I swear this chapter looked longer in Word.

And a quick warning: This chapter was rushed. Sorry for any errors there may be; I'm not perfect ^^; I also rushed this to get it out there, and yeah.

IMPORTANT QUESTION: Would you rather me rush these and get them out sooner? Or make these longer and better, but it'll take awhile to post?

I feel like such a horrible person because I fail at writing. .A.