Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran but I do own Claudia, Ryuu and Stephanie.
Stephanie almost cringed when she saw how the girl customers of the Host Club reacted to the sight of them. Firstly, in her opinion, the guys weren't even that hot...okay maybe just a little but still, it was slightly creepy. Were they really that stupid to believe the mush that was coming out of the boy's mouths?
Though, the way the guy customers reacted to Claudia, even if they were just a small number, was actually kind of cute and funny but she wasn't surprised. Even back home in Boston, guys always felt comfortable with Claudia because of the way she acted.
"Hello boys!" Stephanie smiled walking up to stand behind the red head.
The four boys around Claudia smiled back.
"Who's this?" Rei, one of Claudia's regulars asked.
"This is Stephanie, one of my close friends from Boston." Claudia said gesturing to her friend.
"Best friend and partner in crime." Stephanie corrected.
"Are you going to keep saying that?" Claudia asked annoyed.
"Yep" Stephanie grinned.
The boys chuckled slightly at the girl's interaction.
"Ah, I almost forgot! Steph these guys are my regulars," Claudia said before gesturing to each boy, "this is Rei, Kei, Hiro and Daito"
Each boy waved back with a smile.
"Would I be able to join you fellows? I've got nothing to do..." Steph pouted.
"I don't have a problem with it..." Claudia trailed off as she looked at her guest, "what about you guys?"
"We don't mind, plus more the merrier!" Daito said.
"I'm glad to have such nice people as my guests!" Claudia smiled excitedly as Stephanie sat down next to her.
"And we're glad to have such a nice hostess." Rei smirked.
"So Stephanie," Kei started, "Why aren't you wearing a uniform?"
Stephanie looked down at herself before looking back up and smirking.
"I wasn't planning on staying for so long and I'm not exactly enrolled at this school as well..." Stephanie said.
"What? How did you even get into the school then?" Claudia asked in disbelief.
"You guys should really upgrade your security." Stephanie said smirking.
"So you're a bad ass?" Daito asked Stephanie.
"You could say that" Stephanie replied with a glint in her eyes.
"You have a very interesting friend." Kei said to Claudia who smiled.
"Yes, she's very interesting indeed" Claudia said looking over at the girl, who was having a conversation with Daito.
"So how did you girls meet?" Hiro asked.
This question somehow got the attention of the other hosts, mainly Tamaki who came running up to the girls.
"Yes! How did my daughter meet such a girl?" he said.
"Are you trying to insult me?" Stephanie asked looking up the blonde.
"Why of course not!" Tamaki said through gritted teeth.
"We'll it seems like it." Stephanie said.
"Anyway," Claudia interrupted before an argument broke out between Tamaki and Stephanie, "I met Steph when I moved to Boston during middle school."
"Middle school?" the twins chorused.
Stephanie looked at Claudia slightly confused.
'Huh?' she thought confused.
Sensing her friends uncertainty, Claudia sent a brief glare as if to say 'just play along or I will kill you!' Stephanie quickly smiled.
"Ah yes! Those were the days..." Stephanie sighed.
"Weren't you transferred into her dance/drama class?" Ryuu asked.
Claudia nodded.
"Dance/drama class?" the twins chorused again.
"What were you taught?" Kyoya asked. His black book was open and a pen was ready in hand.
"I believe it was theatre, classical and hip hop." Stephanie answered.
"I thought it was ballet, jazz and hip hop." Claudia said in thought.
"It was hip hop, classical, theatre, drama and contemporary." Ryuu corrected with a sigh.
Everyone looked at the girls in awe. None of them really expected them to be dancers, well except for Kyoya who had done research on Claudia's family background and guessed that Claudia would be artistically inclined.
"Can you dance for us?" one of the girls asked eagerly.
Stephanie glanced at Claudia who looked back, uncertainty in her eyes.
"Maybe next time?" Stephanie said slowly.
The girls almost deflated and Claudia glanced at Kyoya who pushed up his glasses.
"We will defiantly have the girls dance..." Kyoya said glancing that the two girls as they stared at him with anticipation, "I'm afraid just not today."
Stephanie and Claudia discreetly high-fived each other with delight and thanked Kyoya through their smiles which Kyoya returned with his own small one.
"Well then, shall we continue hosting?" Haruhi asked
The rest of the hosts nodded and slowly lead their customers back. Claudia looked back to her customers and smiled though inside, her stomach was a tightly twisted knot.
"So then…shall we continue?"
After the customers had left for the day, Claudia inwardly sighed relieved. Today had been exhausting for her. Stephanie glanced towards Claudia with a slight frown.
"Claudia?" she said softly enough for her to only hear.
"Hmm?" Claudia turned towards her friend.
"Can I talk to you?" she said
"About?"
"What you said earlier about us-" Stephanie started
"Later, not here." Claudia interrupted quietly before she could say anymore.
Hikaru looked towards the girls from his place near his brother. He had heard Claudia's reply and it irked his curiosity. He looked around; it didn't seem as if the others had heard the two girls talking. He returned his gaze back to his brother though kept stealing glances at the girls.
Stephanie walked along side Claudia and Ryuu as they exited the school grounds. Her two best friends laughed as they talked while Stephanie stayed quiet, deep in thought.
'Why would she lie though? It's not like her to lie…or maybe she's just changed after she left us? That's a possibility.' Stephanie thought.
"Steph? You okay?" Ryuu's voice pulled her away from her thoughts.
"Yeah, you're awfully quiet." Claudia added.
Stephanie stared at her two best friends before sighing and turning to stand in front of Claudia who in turnm looked at her friend suprised.
"We need to talk." Stephanie merely said.
Claudia sighed.
"I've already told you, not here and not now."
"Why?"
"She hasn't told them yet." Ryuu replied
Stephanie stared at the red head with disbelief.
"They've been your friends for long enough to know about-"
"They don't need to know about that." Claudia interrupted and walked past Stephanie, "I don't want them to get caught up in trouble they don't need."
"It's not like they're gonna come after you…" Stephanie trailed off.
"Bullshit. After I left without a word, I am one hundred percent sure they want an explanation." Claudia said turning around to look at the girl.
"That true. I heard on the news that Marco's activities are becoming more frequent and apparent. This definitely proves that his angry." Ryuu said with a serious tone.
"Well, he did say that he was angry that you left without a word Claudia…" Stephanie said softly.
"I figured."
The three continued walking in silence until the reached the school gates. Stephanie trailed behind her two friends as they walked to their limo. She sighed frustrated.
"You know, your friends are going to find out about your past sooner or later." Stephanie said.
"Yeah I know…I just hope that Marco doesn't do anything to harm us yet…" Claudia said softly.
Ryuu put his arm around the red head's shoulders reassuringly. Stephanie smiled slightly as Claudia sighed.
"If he does, we all know what to do." Ryuu said with a smirk.
Claudia and Stephanie chuckled with a nod. Ryuu smiled now that he knew that he had slightly lifted his friend's spirits and gestured for them to get in the limo, which they accepted with laughter.
As the limo drove away, a lone figure stood in the distance. His mouth hung open in disbelief though that soon changed into a toothy grin with a fang. His spiky buttery blond locks shone in the setting sun and his lean tanned skin glowed. His green eyes glinted darkly.
"It's been a while hasn't it, Claudia?"
A/N: Hey everyone!
Finally finished this chapter after working on it for weeks! So happy! :D
Thanks for all the review and feedback. I cannot reveal whether your suspicions are true or not yet...hehehe :D
Constructive criticism is welcome and reviews are much appreciated as are favourites and follows.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and look forward to the next!