"Ugh...I can't believe I did that! I was completely sober!" Rose complained to Haruhi as they walked the streets of Florence. Haruhi shrugged. It was decided that Rose and Kyoya would be separated for the day so Rose decided to show Haruhi Florence since they were already there. "Ok, not completely sober but sober enough to know better." Rose corrected.

"You really like Kyoya don't you?" Haruhi asked. "I thought you liked Mori."

"I did." Rose said with a sigh. "But he didn't talk and it was annoying. I mean, he's a great guy but I'm a damn chatter box and that's important. And Kyoya's so devious and kind and hot. I like a good looking smart guy who knows what he wants and how to get it, you know?"

"Uh...yeah..." Haruhi agreed though she really didn't. They turned a corner and were faced with il Duomo. "Wow." Haruhi said as she looked up at the massive building. "Is that a church? It's the biggest one I've ever seen!"

"It is a cathedral, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. We call cathedrals basilicas in Italy." Rose told her as they walked towards the Baptistery.

"Look at all that detail. How long did it take to build?" Haruhi asked.

"I don't know...It's been rebuilt and added onto a lot so I really don't know." Rose confessed as they stood in front of the basilica. Haruhi pointed her camera up at the elaborate door and took a picture.

"Can we go inside?" Haruhi asked. Rose shrugged and led her into the building.

They spent close to an hour admiring the architecture and frescos in the basilica before leaving. "That was very beautiful."

"I'll show you something else that's cool. Come on." Rose happily dragged her friend to the Uffizi, the Galleria dell' Accademia, and the street market. Haruhi was browsing the stalls when Rose decided to be bold.

"What do you think of Tamaki?" Rose asked her as Haruhi bought a little statue of the Duomo for her apartment.

"Huh? Well, he's loud, kind of annoying, kind of stupid...I don't know." Haruhi answered.

"What if he left?" Rose asked. "Would you miss him?" Haruhi looked up at her, shocked and hurt by the idea.

"Of course I would!" She told her. Rose gave her a knowing smile and steered the conversation away.

()()()()()()()()

"Did you have a good day with Haruhi?" Kyoya asked when he joined Rose out on the terrace before dinner. He sat down next to her and watched her twirl her antique diamond ring, watching the large stone surrounded by smaller diamonds and along the band spin around her slim finger. She looked up from her script to him.

"It was fun. I showed her the sights and got to share the city with her. It's always fun to see someone see il Duomo for the first time." She said. Rose sat her script down on the table and leaned forward. "Kyoya. Jack and your father decided it will be best to announce our engagement and set a date."

"For someone so upset about being forced into an arranged marriage you're taking this rather lightly." Kyoya commented. Rose smiled at him.

"I guess I've grown attached to you. I guess you like me too. I know you aren't just interested in my family business. I think you like me for me." Rose said.

"I thought you were intriguing when I first started researching you when I heard you were in our class. I saw you for the first time and..." Kyoya stopped himself and let the sentence hang. "I thought you were more than that. Granted, I did still have a soft spot Kaoru and I was disappointed when you showed interest in Mori."

"So it was love at first sight?" She asked with a goofy smile and Kyoya huffed and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"I wouldn't call it that but...maybe." Kyoya said and sat back to read his newspaper. Kyoya didn't see Rose's knowing smile.

()()()()()()()

"Hey boys!" Rose greeted as she walked out to the pool in her push-up halter top string bikini before lunch. This time it was Kyoya's turn to stop Rose in her tracks. She watched Kyoya push himself out of the pool, water dripping off of his naked chest. He looked so different without his glasses. "Hey babe!" She said, her eyes roving over him as she walked to the deep end to dive in. She swam over to where Kyoya was sitting on the edge of the pool and pulled him in. When Kyoya resurfaced she was grinning. "You look cute without your glasses."

"You look cute without your curly hair." He retorted. Rose could feel her hair, heavy from the weight of the water and knew it would now fall closer to her waist if she got out of the pool.

"You think so?" She asked. She had always liked her curly hair (well, most of the time) and never really thought about straightening it.

"Yes." He told her as she moved closer.

"Get a room!" Hikaru yelled at them and threw a beach ball at Rose's head. She caught it and threw it back hitting him in the face. The pool erupted in horse play as the teenagers fought with water guns and pool toys until Tamaki declared that they were going to play Marco Polo.

After a day play in and lounging around the pool, the teenagers all went their separate ways. After an hour everyone was in the parlor but Rose. Hikaru and Zero cuddled up on the sofa and the others lounged about ready magazines or playing video games. Haruhi was reading a book that she gotten at the Statue of David exhibit that was about Florence. A good deal of time later Rose joined them wearing a strapless purple maxi dress, wooden bracelets, and carrying a book with her. But what caught them by surprise was the extra time Rose had taken after drying her hair to straighten it. She sat next to Kyoya and opened her book. Kyoya smiled before turning back to his magazine.

THE GAZETTE

Recent pictures of Rose Lawrence dancing the night away just after the funeral of her mother with her friends and brother in tow has had people talking. Not to mention the huge diamond spotted on her ring ringer has rumors buzzing. Luckily, we were able to get Rose Lawrence on the phone for an interview.

How are you doing?

Oh, I'm fine. Thank you.

You seem to be taking your mother's death rather well.

It's a very, very long story but let's just say I got over losing her years ago. She hasn't been in my life on a regular basis since I was 8 years old.

Why is that?

It's no secret my mother had a drug problem. Just look at the way she died. She was out casted by the family since she refused to get clean. My father didn't want her influencing myself or my brother that way. He wanted us to stay away from her and her friends so we wouldn't grow up to be those wild kids you see drinking every weekend and getting caught doing drugs.

So you don't drink or party?

I won't lie. I do drink in places where it's legal for a 17 year old to drink but I haven't touched a drink while living in America or Japan.

Speaking of which, how is life in Japan?

Oh it's great! I absolutely love it there. I've met a lot of really great friends.

How's school going for a non-native speaker?

Very hard but Ouran has so many great teacher.

Ouran's that legendary prep school for the super wealthy isn't it?

Yes it is. It's an amazing and fun school. I enjoy going to school there. I made a lot of really great friends there.

Is that where you met that boy you were dancing with?

Um...yes...you could say that. He's Kyoya Ootori, he's in my class. Our families have been doing business with each other for years. We got along great and our families arranged a marriage. I wasn't very happy about it but after our first date I started to change my mind. Now I'm really considering it. That's why I wear the ring.

So you're engaged?

Yes. In a manner of speaking, we are engaged. I would consider him my boyfriend and not my fiancé right now. But for now, we're still engaged. Does that make sense at all? [laughs]

Kyoya put the magazine down with a smile.

"You've been doing that a lot lately." Tamaki commented. Kyoya stared at him before the mask went up again. "She's good for you." Tamaki said.