A/N: Yeah...I'm sorry. So many things happened over the past few months that each time i tried to finish this chapter, I'd be too tired to even proofread. But on the bright side, I got a boyfriend so I can actually write about kissing without just guessing lol. A few of you mentioned that you could see a lot of yourself in Allyn and that's great! I'm not a dancer, but I love watching people dance, so if you want to PM me with some tips on how to write about dancing or send me a video of some choreography you'd like to be included in the story, feel free to do so! Any and all criticism is welcome.

The beach.

A beach means water.

And water means swimsuits.

Allyn looked at her body in the mirror. Her bikini top seemed ready to snap and her board-short bottoms were crinkly and parachute-like. It was either this yellow nightmare, or her one piece. Allyn twirled once twice, three more times, never taking her eyes off of her reflection. This swimsuit hid her bottom really well, but the top had gotten so small.

The twins had hundreds of old swimsuits scattered about the club room today, but those were for Haruhi. Allyn could never ask for one. Especially since she didn't have the money to pay for a designer as famous as their mother. Haruhi was so lucky to just have these things thrown at her, but she still refused them. She even acted irritated about the whole thing.

If we could switch places for even one day, Allyn thought with a dejected sigh. She flopped down onto her twin bed and wiggled around a bit to test the security of her top. It stayed put, but she was still wary of how small it had gotten since last summer.

She tried on the monokini instead. It wasn't as bad. Plain black with a medium sized hole on each side. Less revealing and more secure.

But will he like it?

It would have been so much easier if she'd gone with Adake to the beach, but now it was too late. They were piled in a van, driving miles away in the opposite direction and she was stuck here. Kagome's harsh words rattled around Allyn's head.

"Rich freaks".

"You're the only one that actually works."

"It's not fair to Allyn."

It isn't fair is it?

Allyn sat up abruptly. Black spots clouded her vision and he head pounded. She looked around the room with disgust.

Homework and forgotten tests were trashed and scattered around her small bedroom. Clothes were everywhere. Since Allyn started dating Kyouya, this is what her life had become.

A mess.

She spent more time standing in front of her mirror-crying in front of her mirror-than she ever had before. Of course living in Japan for the better part of two years made her feel like crap. There was never anyone around that she could really relate to. She had almost zero friends. Her math grades were atrocious. But she just felt better than she did now. More at ease. Less stressed. The Host Club changed her.

Kyouya gave her a reason to care even more than she did when she first arrived. Not only did Allyn have to worry about her looks and grades, but now she had to worry about keeping him happy. She had to say the right thing, wear the right thing, stay interesting. Kyouya Ootori has the perfect life and he invited her into it. How in the world did he expect her to keep up with him?

What if they all go out to a group dinner and decide to split the bill? What if all the other hosts are paying their fair share for this beach trip and Allyn will end up looking embarrassed and in debt?

Why do I need to worry about these things now?

For some boy?

There were thousands of boys in New York living on the same budget as Allyn who wouldn't expect her to pay for private beach hotels or fly out to Venice for pasta at the drop of a hat. Why wasn't she with them instead of freaking out over a rich kid?

It's because the Host Club has changed her for better and for worse.

The past month and a half was the best time she'd ever had in Japan. Allyn was texting, calling, laughing with friends.

Friends.

Not the ones that were stuck behind a computer screen, thousands of miles across the globe. Friends that cared about her enough to invite her to go places. Friends that cared about her enough to fall in love with her.

Love? Did I really just think that?

Kyouya meant the world to Allyn right now, but did she really…'love' him?

Yes. Yes she did.

But does he love me?

"Now you're sure this isn't too forward, Kyouya?" Tamaki paced back and forth across Kyouya's bedroom. He clutched his elbow in one hand and had the other in front of his mouth, biting his thumbnail. "Is it really appropriate for a father to see his daughter so scantily clad? Can't we keep her out of the ocean and in some shorts and a sweatshirt like she was at the park?"

For the past half hour Kyouya sat patiently under the kotatsu while Tamaki went through each and every reason(both reasonable and unreasonable) why they had to cancel the beach trip. Haruhi might get sunburned, she might get kidnapped, a hurricane is sure to hit the coast if Haruhi goes into the water. Tamaki could be downright exhausting sometimes.

"If you're that paranoid, invite the girls along. Haruhi won't be able to wear a swimsuit then," Kyouya didn't look up from his work when he spoke. Bringing the girls would add a sizeable amount to the vacation bill, but the money he would make from selling beach photo albums and reserving private time with the king should cover it.

"That's a great idea, Kyouya! With the princesses there, those shady twins can't force her into a bathing suit," Tamaki dance around the room and plopped down next to Kyouya. "But what about Allyn?"

Kyouya stopped typing. "What about her?"

"Well, she's my little sister! You think it's OK for her to prance around in a few pieces of cloth and string? I won't stand for it!"

Sister? When did he start that up? Kyouya vaguely recalled Tamaki being a little protective of Allyn when the twins started messing with her, but his focus was almost always on Haruhi. How will Tamaki react if he finds out about Kyouya and Allyn's relationship if he won't even let the twins see her in a bathing suit?

"Allyn is a sensible girl," Kyouya spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully and gauging Tamaki's reaction. "She wouldn't wear anything a proper young lady wouldn't. There is no need to worry."

That seemed to calm him down enough. "Well, if you say so, Kyouya. Now what are we going to do about sleeping arrangements? As her father, I think it's only fair for Haruhi to sleep with me in my room. Allyn needs the room next to mine so I can hear any attackers at her door…" Tamaki continued on like that for the rest of the night, changing and rearranging everyone's rooms until he finally circled back to Kyouya's original plan.

Kyouya tried to focus on his work, but that rambling goof got Allyn back on his mind. Just the thought of her voice made him want to close his eyes and dream of her forever. He could feel her curls dancing around his hands while they kissed. The arch of her back beneath his hands. Her lips, so shy and tentative, forming a perfect smile. Kyouya lay down for bed that night and imagined those lips speaking the three words he longed to hear.