Wow! What a week it's been!

Hope you all had a great week! And if you didn't, well here's a chapter that hopefully will make you feel a bit better about it. if you did have a good week, then here's something to add to it!

Sarrii insisted that Alex stay home the next day. She argued that Alex had been staying up late too many nights and not eaten too many times. She thought that all Alex needed was a restful day in bed.

Alex, on the other hand, thought that that was the last thing she needed. Lying in bed all day allowed her think and remember, which was always dangerous. She'd rather be at school and focus her attention on math problems and Japan History.

Besides, Alex knew what it would look like to her classmates if she skipped out the day after they all found out about her. She refused to hide from them. Now that she was actually well rested and she could think straight, she realized at least that. Hiding was something she was good at, something she was used to doing, but in this case it would not be the best idea.

The two had a heated argument about it. Alex insisted that she felt fine and that eve Akito said that it was okay for her to go to school, as long as she promised to go straight to the nurse if she started to feel dizzy or too exhausted. He even had non-drowsy pain medicine sent over, just in case the pain in her head got too strong.

Sarrii still wasn't convinced. She thought that Alex's passing out the day before was due to lack of sleep and food. She said that Alex probably still wasn't used to the new time zone and shouldn't exhaust herself.

Finally, Kyoya, of all people stepped in.

Alex remembered little of the previous night. She remembered that he had stayed with her until she'd woken up, even calmed her down from one of her episodes. She remembered talking to him about the photograph of her parents, but the details on that are hazy at best.

"Sarrii if Alex wishes to go to school, you should allow her. After all, she did promise to call should she feel even slightly over exhausted," Kyoya said, and Alex was struck again by how he called her by her—technical—nickname.

The maid sighed. "Alright," she looked at Alex, "but one sign that you're not feeling well, you come straight home."

Alex agreed and tiredly got ready for school.


"Thank you, by the way," Alex said when she and Kyoya were halfway to school. It was a beautiful autumn day, and she couldn't wait to get outside in the afternoon light to take pictures of the changing leaves.

Kyoya looked over at her from his black book. "About what, exactly?" he asks.

Alex shrugs, feeling embarrassed. "For…everything, I guess. Taking care of my wound yesterday afternoon and staying with me last night. And for helping me this morning. Just…" she shrugged again, looking at her hands clasped in her lap. "Thank you."

Kyoya didn't say anything until they got to school, and neither did Alex. She just took pictures of whatever was outside whenever they stopped in traffic, glad for the tinted windows.

When they stopped at the school, Kyoya turned to look at her, making her look up in surprise. "I did what I did because my father is holding me responsible for you while you are here," he tells her, his voice giving away no emotion. "I thought it would do me no good to defy him. And because he will never know of what happened yesterday, there is no need to bring it up." and with that, he got out of the car.

Alex sat there for a moment, staring at where he had just sat. Slowly, a small smile spread on her lips.

Yeah, she'd defiantly underestimated him.


The entire day, Alex felt the gaze of everyone she passed. She could hear the whispers around her. News had spread pretty quickly, so everyone in the school knew by lunch time. She couldn't take the stares or the pitying looks from those who didn't share the views of their peers.

That included Haurhi and the twins. Throughout class, she saw Kaoru glancing at her out of the corner of her eye, not asking his questions very loudly. He felt distant, somehow. Like he didn't know what to think of her after her episode yesterday. He didn't know how to act around her. He didn't continue their game. He'd had the paper last, so it was up to him, and he didn't bring it out at all. Alex tried to push down the ever-growing sense of disappointment.

His brother and Haruhi acted similarly. Neither one of them could look her in the eye, they didn't try to speak to her, and she felt as if she'd lost the only people she could even begin to consider friends.

It's for the best, she told herself. it's better if you don't get attached to anyone here. Who knows how long you'll be here? You could be gone tomorrow. It's best if you just keep to yourself.

But no matter how many times Alex repeated this to herself, she couldn't shake her growing self-hatred for blowing it with the trio.

However this distance extended to the other members of the club as well. When she passed Honey and Mori in the hall, Honey greeted her with his usual smile, but there was something in it that made her gut twist. It was hesitation, as if he weren't sure that his smile would send her into another episode. Even Tamaki was distant and careful round her.

Kyoya, of course, paid little attention to her, but he was the only person whom she felt didn't treat her with any remorse or distaste. Unlike his club members, he wasn't hesitant or careful, which she found herself grateful for. She was starting to realize that if there was one thing you could rely Kyoya on was his brutal honesty.

By the end of the day, though, she was over it. The distance between her and the trio felt like the distance between her and her siblings—an entire world away. When class was dismissed for the day, Alex stepped in front of the trio before they had the chance to escape.

"I want to make something clear," she said as the room emptied out. She waited for the last of the students to file out before she went on. "I'm not a ticking bomb. I'm not going to explode randomly into fits of hysteria. So please, stop treating me like it."

The three stood there for a second, stunned. It was the most she's said to them. When she was sane, anyway.

Haurhi cleared her throat. "We weren't thinking that, Alex," she said. "We just didn't know if you needed space or not."

Alex's chest tightened. Space. She had more of that than she needed. "Well, I don't," she said, and even she could hear the irritation in her tone. She felt even guiltier at the look of astonishment on the twin's faces and the hurt on Haurhi's. Before she could embarrass herself any further, she turned and walked out of the room with her head down.


The looks on their faces haunted Alex all night. Why did she say that stuff? Why did she have to make everything worse?

She didn't sleep again that night, and found that things were worse the next day. If anything, the trio was more reserved than the day before. And from the way that the other members were acting, they'd recounted the story.

Alright, Alex thought, what am I going to do about this?

She felt guilty as hell. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she shouldn't be. It's not her fault that little things get to her. And it certainly wasn't their fault. But still, she felt responsible for what she said, because a part of her had meant every single word of it. And she felt even worse for what she'd said to the trio.

So with this in mind, she approached Mr. Ootori that weekend. He'd returned from his trip the day before, and, thankfully, has not heard word about the incident.

She knocked hesitantly on his office door.

"Come in," his deep voice boomed.

Shaking slightly, Alex opened the door and stepped into his office.

It was probably one of the most uninviting rooms she'd ever been in, and that was saying something. The walls were pale white with bad, bland paintings on them. There was a bookshelf or two with heavy volumes on them and Mr. Ootori's single wooden desk in the middle of the room, currently scattered with papers.

"Alexandria," his tone held a bit of surprise. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing, sir," Alex responded, clenching her hands behind her back to hide how badly they were shaking.

"Then what is it?" he asked.

Alex took a few more steps into the room, reminding herself what Mrs. G had told her about getting into character.

You are a business woman discussing a deal with a business man, she told herself. You have to act confident to show that you mean what you say and you have to make your points clear.

This was the only was Alex could stay sane and ask for her favor. She raised her head and looked him straight in the eye. "I'd like to make a phone call home."

Mr. Ootori stared at her a moment. Alex kept his gaze, as much as she wanted to drop it. After what felt like years he said, "New York?"

Alex shook her head. "No. My home town where I grew up."

He folded his hands atop of his desk, leaning forward. "I don't think that is a good idea."

"It shouldn't take long," Alex said.

After another long moment, he motioned for Alex to sit in one of the chair across from his desk. And she did, hoping that he didn't see how her knees shook ever so slightly.

"This isn't about your brother and sister," he asked, though it didn't sound like a question.

"No, sir," Alex responded, even though the thought of speaking with her brother and sister made her heart ache. "Though it is about something personal."

He leaned back. "And I don't suppose that you would be willing to share this with me?"

He thinks I'm lying, Alex realizes. And suddenly, she's angry. Alex does not lie. Not when it matters. She sat up straighter, not even bothering to act now. "Like I said, it's personal. Let's just say that I have something that I need to take care of, and I need some help from an old family friend to do that."

He still didn't see satisfied.

Pursing her lips, Alex drew her last card. "Mr. Ootori, sir, I have not made one complaint since I arrived in Japan. I have gone to the school that you insisted that I go to, and I have put up with a great deal since then. I'm sure you're not surprised to hear this, but rich kids don't take kindly to orphans who intrude on their school. Lucky for you, I'm used to it. But what would Natalie say if she knew how I was being treated at school?" she saw his face pale a bit. Bingo. "It's one phone call. Two if you count asking Nat, but she loves me so I doubt that will be a problem."

Mr. Ootori glared at her, and she glared back. Normally, she doesn't act this way towards adults. She was raised to respect her elders, and she took that to heart. But she needed this, and if this was the only way that she could get what she needed, then so be it.

Finally, Mr. Ootori stood. "Very well. You make your call." He turned to leave, knowing that it would be best for him to leave her to do this herself.

"And Alexandria" he said as Alex reached for the phone on his desk. She turned when he said her name. "You would make a very good negotiator."

Alex turned back around, all of her confidence gone. "Well," she said, swallowing the lump I her throat "It's amazing what six months of acting school can do."

For a moment, there's nothing but silence. Then the door clicks close behind him.

As Alex suspected, it didn't take much to convince Natalie, the agent I charge of Alex and her siblings (but mostly Alex) to let her make the call. She had to go through the agent's system, which connected her to the shop.

A woman's voice picked up on the fourth ring, sounding energetic. "Ant Nancy's Southern Pastries, how may I help you?"

Alex almost broke down in tears when she heard the old woman's voice. "Hi Ant Nancy."

There was a silence, and then, "Alex? Oh, little Alex!" she exclaimed. Alex let out a breath of relief. "Why, I haven't heard from you in over a year! Not since you went to New York with little Addy. Are you still there? How's that brother of yours?"

Alex's throat closed up. She was so close to crying. "I'm not in New York anymore, Ant Nancy. I'm in Japan."

"Gracious!" Nancy replied. Alex loved Ant Nancy's accent more than most southerners. It was the most stereotypical grandma voice you could think of. "Why on Earth would they send you there?"

"Well, there's this family here who has really good security, so…" she let the sentence trail off. Nancy was one of the few people who knew of Alex's and her sibling's situation.

"I see," her voice grew serious. "How is it? They treating you right?"

Alex felt herself smile a real smile. "It's a different life style, I'll tell you that Ant Nancy. I don't think these people know the true hardships of life."

Ant Nancy made a tut tut sound. "Well don't let them get to you sweetie. If anyone can get through this, I know it's you." Alex felt her heart contract. If it weren't for Nancy and her never-ending faith in Alex, she wasn't' sure where she'd be right now.

"Now," Nancy said, in her getting-down-to-business voice. "What is it you called about? I know you wouldn't just call all the way from Japan for a chat."

If she could she would.

Alex sighed. "I need some recipes."

"Oh boy," Nancy said. "What is it have you done this time?"

Alex explained everything. She never hid anything from Nancy. If anything she was the only adult Alex could really talk to. Plus, she was a great listener. She never interrupted and she always thought out her answers before giving them.

When Alex finished her tale, Nancy was silent for a long time. "Now missy, you know what I say…"

"That I don't need to impress people, I know," Alex said. "But…I really feel bad about this, Ant Nancy. They were just trying to be nice, unlike everyone else, and I said such horrible things to them. Then I go and collapse like that…"

Nancy sighed. "I know sweetie. I'm sorry this is so hard on you."

Alex felt on the verge of tears again. "Why do I have to be so broken?"

"Alexandria Nicole Wright!" Nancy exclaimed. "Don't you ever say that again? You ain't broken, you're fractured. And even if you was broken, it'd be an easy repair." Alex was crying now. Nancy was one of the few people she could express her true fears to. "Now honey dry up them tears. You've got some pastries to make."


Kyoya was walking past his father's office, only to see his father standing outside, leaning a little towards the door.

"Father?" Kyoya asked. It was a strange sight to see, his father seeming to be listening to something in his own office. Mr. Ootori put a finger to his lips and motioned his youngest son over. From inside, he could hear Alex talking a mile a minute in English, her voice having taken of a strange accent that made it hard to understand what she was saying.

"Oh, ant Nancy don't say that! Everyone knows you're the best in town!" Alex exclaimed. She sounded almost happy.

His father motioned him away from the door, out of ear shot if Alex was even listening.

"Kyoya, how has Alexandria been doing at school?" he asked.

Kyoya frowned. "Fine as far as I can tell. Her teachers have nothing but praise for her work."

Mr. Ootori nodded. "Very well. However, remember to keep an eye on her." With that he walked away, his hands behind his back, his back straight.

Kyoya watch him, wondering what Alex had said in order to gain access to his father's office phone.

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