Here's your next episode, people! Enjoy it!

Curly Hair

Katie sighed. Her Chemistry class today had been especially boring, especially considering that half the time all the numbers and symbols confused her. It was worse than Algebra for her - and that just sent her in circles.

She pouted and quickly blew a piece of hair out of her face as she put her head down to do her working out. Yes, she still struggled with Chemistry, but it wasn't too hard… was it?

She pouted again when a piece of her hair landed in her face again. It was that one curly bit that never went straight unless she straightened it, which meant it was only straight on occasions. And even then, it was never really that straight.

"Katie?"

Katie looked up to see Hikaru frowning at her, his eyebrow raised.

"Yes, Hikaru?" She blew the piece of air out of her face, only to have it land straight back there. She glared at it.

"Are you alright?"

Katie looked over at him. He had a confused yet worried look on his face, as if he wasn't sure whether he should be scared of her at that moment or just genuinely worried.

"Yes, I'm fine." She blew the piece of hair out of her face again - it conveniently landed there every time she spoke to Hikaru. It was annoying.

"You seem really concerned about that piece of hair," Hikaru smirked, the smile wiping off as soon as Katie directed the glare at him.

"It's annoying me."

Hikaru raised and eyebrow at her. "Really?"

Katie glared at him. "Yes." She pulled on the piece of hair lightly. "It never stays out of my face. It's too springy."

Hikaru reached over and pulled on it lightly. He smirked when it sprung right back up. "Cool."

"It's not cool!"

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not!"

"Is-"

"Mr. Hitachiin!"

Hikaru and Katie quickly turned to the front, where the teacher was glaring at Hikaru.

"Yes, sir?" Hikaru answered.

"Is there a problem?" the teacher asked, casting a glance at Katie before turning back to Hikaru.

He shook his head quickly. "No, sir."

The teacher nodded. "Then get on with your work."

Hikaru nodded. "Yes sir."

"You too, Miss Brighten."

Katie nodded as well. "Yes, sir."

Katie sighed as she tied up her apron, getting ready for her shift. She had cookies and cupcakes to bake - with Haruhi's help, of course - and tea to make for the guests. And, of course, the occasional coffee. She sighed. These people wanted everything.

"Hey."

Katie turned to see Hikaru standing at the door, a comb and brush in his hands. She eyed him critically. "Why have you got those?" she asked.

Hikaru smirked. "I have come to solve your hair problem!"

Katie frowned. "What hair problem?"

"The one you had in Chemistry."

"Oh, that problem!" She smiled. It was nice of him to consider her problems and try to solve them… "It's not a problem any more."

Hikaru frowned. "Really? Why?"

Katie pointed at her hair. "I found a hair clip, so it stays back from my face."

"Really?" Hikaru stepped closer to her. "Let me see it."

Katie stepped away from him. "No!"

Hikaru stepped closer. "I want to see it!"

"Why in Hades do you want to see my hairclip?"

Hikaru was taken aback slightly by what she said before lunging for her again. "I just want to see it!"

"See what?" Katie asked as she dodged Hikaru's hand again - if she hadn't it would've poked her right in the eye.

"Your curl!" Hikaru reached again.

This time Katie caught his hand in a firm grip. "No."

Hikaru pouted. "Please?"

Katie narrowed her eyes at him before softening a little. "Well…"

"What is going on here?"

Katie and Hikaru both turned their heads to see who had spoken, Hikaru's hand in mid-air with Katie's around his wrist.

Kyoya and Tamaki stood at the door, one holding a clipboard and the other folding his arms, both with raised eyebrows.

Katie and Hikaru frowned. What were they staring at? That was when Katie realised that she was still holding onto Hikaru's arm. She blushed and let go. That was when Hikaru realised what they had been staring at, and he blushed also.

"This isn't what it looks like…" he tried reasoning.

"Really?" Kyoya asked, his expression doubting and skeptical. "Then what is going on?"

"Hikaru just wanted to help me with my hair," Katie answered, her face going redder as she said it.

"Really? To me it seemed as if you were flirting with one of our Host Club members," Tamaki said slyly.

If possible, Katie went even redder. "It did?"

Tamaki smirked. "Yes, yes it did." He walked out of the room.

Kyoya took a step towards Katie and Hikaru. "Miss Brighten, this is a kitchen - not a playground. Do this 'game playing' in your own time. Understood?"

Katie nodded. "Understood, sir."

Kyoya nodded. "Don't let this happen again." He walked out of the room.

"Yes, sir," Katie whispered. She glared at Hikaru before storming off.

Hikaru frowned. What had he done wrong?

It took a whole shift of Katie ignoring him before Hikaru finally cracked. Well, it took him a lot less time, but he was always really busy with his customers, so he couldn't even talk to her properly until after her shift. And even then, she tried to avoid him.

"Katie!" Hikaru ran after her, down the empty school corridors, hoping to catch her before she left.

Katie walked on. She really didn't want to talk.

"Katie!"

Katie gritted her teeth.

"Katie!"

"What?" she snapped at the redheaded boy as she turned to face him.

Hikaru stopped. He had never seen her so… angry. "I… I just wanted to talk…"

"Then talk to Kaoru." She turned to walk away.

"Kaoru's busy," Hikaru lied. "And… I want to talk to you."

"Yes, well, I don't want to talk to you," Katie answered as she walked off.

"I'm sorry!" Hikaru called out.

"Really?" Katie bit back as she walked on.

Hikaru ran after her and grabbed her arm, causing her eyes to widen, and she whirled around to face him. Was he voluntarily touching her?

"I'm sorry," Hikaru repeated the apology, looking into Katie's eyes.

Katie glared back. "You nearly got me fired today."

Hikaru winced and looked away. "I…"

"You didn't even apologise," she continued. "You just walked off as if nothing happened!"

"Katie…" Hikaru started.

"And then you didn't even try to speak to me!"

"I said I was sorry!" Hikaru exploded, frustrated as he turned to look Katie in the eye.

Katie narrowed her eyes at him. "They're just words, Hikaru. Words don't always mean something."

Hikaru's breath hitched. She either didn't believe him or didn't want to. He held onto her arm tighter so that she didn't get away. "Please, Katie, just listen to me."

Katie narrowed her eyes at him before dropping her bag on the floor and folding her arms at him. "I'm listening."

Hikaru took a deep breath. "I tried to take the clip out of your hair because… because…"

Katie raised an eyebrow at him. "Because…?"

Hikaru blushed a little. "Uh… because…"

Katie smirked. "Is there something you want to tell me, Hikaru?"

Hikaru's face went redder. "It was because I think it looks prettier out by your face," he blurted out.

Katie's face went a light pink. "Really?"

Hikaru nodded. "I… I'm so sorry for nearly getting you fired."

Katie gave him a sad smile. "Oh, please - it's a job where I don't get paid." She rubbed his arm reassuringly. "Don't worry about it."

Hikaru smiled - not his devilish, cheeky smile, but a genuine one. He reached out and pulled the clip out of Katie's hair. "Anyway, it's really fun to play with."

Katie rolled her eyes at him. "Of course it is, Hikaru."

Hikaru gave a small chuckle as he pulled lightly on the hair and watched as it sprung back up.

Katie smiled. "Should I leave my hair out more often for you to play with, then?"

Hikaru stopped. "Uh… if you want to… I mean…" He blushed.

Katie shrugged. He looks really cute when he blushes like that… "I don't really mind."

Hikaru rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "Uh… alright, then." He was about to say something else when he heard his name being called from the Host Club. Just at that moment, Katie's phone started ringing.

Katie pulled it out of her pocket and checked the caller ID. "It's my mum."

Hikaru smiled. "Yeah, well I've got to go now."

Katie smiled. "See you tomorrow?"

Hikaru nodded. "See you." He turned to head back to the Host Club.

Katie smiled and watched him walking away for a little while before she headed home, twirling that piece of curly hair in her fingers the whole way.

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