I don't own Ouran!
The sound of the phone ringing interrupts my typing for a moment.
I want to get up and get the phone like I usually would, but there is a problem with that plan.
The problem is Stephen is in the living room I would need to pass in order to answer the phone.
And since the night Susanna had whatever nightmare she had Suzette and Stephen have given me the cold shoulder. Every time I walk into a room that they occupy it feels like the room is ten degrees cooler and all conversation stops. They only stare until I leave.
It's driving me crazy. Usually I wouldn't give a damn what they decided to do to show their displeasure, but this time it's really affecting me.
I just don't understand what they want from me.
The phone finally stops ringing. I hope one of the maids picked it up.
Now I can focus on his stack of paperwork. If I don't pick up the pace I'll start losing my three day lead on this paperwork. And I would rather not do that. My grades in my Calculus class has already started to slip.
After balancing budgets and double checking balances to two different companies in five countries I just don't feel like doing any more Math. So I've neglected to do some homework and my grade is starting to show that.
I really hope that my Dad hasn't been checking our grades lately.
With that lovely thought, I fill in a few numbers in the balance book for Mom's company in Italy. Apparently, Susanna can't do this by herself. Numbers are confusing to her and she already got rid of her financial advisor so I may have to interview someone to help her with it.
That reminds me. I have to get everything settled for when Kyle finally gets over here. His room still needs to be prepared and some 'American friendly' food needs to be bought. I have no idea how he has managed never to eat legit Japanese food with me around, but somehow he hasn't. Then again he always said my American genes must be stronger when I'm in America because I didn't act Japanese.
He is so odd.
My cell phone rings just as someone knocks on my door.
I answer my cell phone without even looking at caller I.D and call out "Come in."
"Come in where exactly?"
I catch my grimace before the maid that just came through the door can see. "Otori. What do I owe the pleasure?" To the maid I say "Yes?"
"I think that is what you need to explain to me." He replies. Now he's starting to make no sense.
I nod to the maid so she knows I'm listening.
"Your Father is on the phone. He would like to speak to you, Miss Sara." I can see her worry. Probably because she really doesn't know if she's asking the right person.
Really? Right now? I sigh. "Tell him that I will speak to him immediately." To Kyoya I say. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
She looks relieved. "Yes, Miss. Shall I tell him that you are...detained for the moment?"
I nod as Kyoya's voice comes through again. "Haruhi told me that you needed to ask me something."
"Yes please do, but assure him that I am coming soon." I instruct her before she bows her head and leaves the room.
As soon as she leaves I turn my attention back to Kyoya. "I have no idea why she told you that." Did I forget to tell him something? But why would I have to ask him about anything? Usually I'm on top of things.
"She said you needed help with something, but would not tell her what." He sounds amused. "I thought it sounded odd so I thought I ask." He pauses. "Is everything alright?"
I feel surprised. "Why would you ask that?" Why is he asking that?
"Usually you successfully keep any and all of your emotions hidden. Having Haruhi tell me that you seemed especially worried and needed mt help for something is slightly" He pauses again as if he's evaluating his next words. "Worrying."
I smile despite my annoyance of Haruhi. I take it she was tried of me waiting to ask Kyoya if he could help me think of a way to get all of my problems solved. Even though I told her that I was not going to ask him unless my life depended on it.
"How comforting that you care so much." I say half-teasingly and half-sacastically.
He's silent for a few seconds. "I am speaking to Sara correct?"
He sounds so unsure now.
This time I have to take the phone away from my ear so I can laugh without him hearing. "Yes I am Sara unless you were hoping to speak to someone else."
He sighs. "At least I know that you are feeling somewhat normal."
"Yes, well then..." I really don't know what to do. Should I thank him for checking up on him or tell him to stop worrying over me so much?
"I will see you at school." Then he hangs up.
I look at my phone curiously. That was strange. Then I catch sight of the stack of paperwork and remember that my Dad is waiting to speak to me.
Sighing, I put my hands on the arm-rests of my chair and push off of it as I straighten my legs. When I'm standing I take a deep breath and prepare myself for whatever he's going to tell me.
When I reach the door I look at the phone sitting on the table and figuratively swallow my nervousness. Here goes nothing.
I quickly walk to the phone and can't help but glance into the room I saw Stephen last.
He's still in there watching soccer. It makes me so upset how he's torturing himself by watching a sport he is no longer allowed to play.
If only I had been able to prevent our Dad from doing it. If only I had tried harder.
If only...
Well, I can't beat myself up before I have to have a talk with my Dad. Because that only makes the phone call worse!
I pick up m pace and get to the table the phone is on. Taking another deep breath I pick up the receiver and hope that my voice sounds even. "Hello?"
"Why is Stephen lagging behind in his work?" My Dad demands angrily.
What? How is he lagging? I do all of his reports on time and I told him to have his worksheets done yesterday!
I look back into the living room. "Did he not submit it?"
"Obviously this is your error! Come to the main house immediately!" Then the line goes dead.
Oh, no.
The limo pulls up at the driveway. And Sakura follows me to the door with a pout.
"I probably won't be back for dinner." I tell her. "So eat without me."
She points to the sweater that I have in my hands. Probably wondering why I have it when it's warm out. I changed into jeans and put on sneakers as well. I could see why she would wonder about the sweater.
"In case I get cold." I say lamely. "See you later Blossom."
She smiles softly and nods before hugging me and then going off to the kitchen.
You're doing this for them. I remind myself.
I pant wearily and collapse on the bench at the park I had the limo drop me off at.
I was right to bring a sweater.
As soon as I arrived to his office, my Dad started yelling at me. About how I was ungrateful. How I was lazy. How I didn't deserve the education he was paying for.
Laughing bitterly, I recall how he called me failure who had no work ethic.
If only he knew...
At least I know that my efforts to present my siblings' work as better than my own was not done in vain. He thinks that they're more motivated than I am and work twice as hard.
Trying not to move too suddenly I gently lean back and press my back as gingerly as possible as the back of the bench.
I wince and move forward. Leaning back seems to not be an option.
Who would have thought paperweights would be so heavy?
"I hate him." I say softly letting those three words ring in the peaceful night.
I used to refrain from saying such things. Because I stupidly held on to the childish hope that our Dad really did care about us even just a little bit. That maybe he thought he was doing the best for us.
No longer will I think that.
He is just doing whatever he pleases for his benefit not ours.
Now that I'm positive he doesn't care for us in the slightest I can finally get rid of these pesky emotional ties to the person who seemed so happy to see us when we returned to Japan.
It's true that before I was making plans to make sure that he couldn't ever control us again. But I was hoping to do it privately and without much fuss. It would have been a lot harder to do it that way.
My common sense was telling me to screw it and do it the easy way, but that small hope of him actually being misunderstood always got in the way.
That is no longer an issue.
My earlier emotions will no longer influence my decisions on 'going easy' on him.
Not only will I get us away from him and keep us financially secure, no, now I will do it as publically as possible and humiliate him to the point of him having to beg me to stop.
Kyle can't come here fast enough. He and I have a lot of planning to do.
I smile to myself despite the dull ache in my arms and back.
You would think he would have learned by now...anyone who crosses me or my siblings will have hell to pay.
He may have won some battles, but I swear I will win the war.
I know that I told some people this chapter would be up last week, some things got in the way. But here it is (finally).
So thanks to all that are reviewing! I really appreciate it and I'm glad that you are support this story.
And the next chapter probably won't come very quickly. My school work is starting to get more demanding. Just wanted to give you a head's up!
