A/N: Hi, friends! So…This is it, huh? I have to recede back into the story and quit with the fourth wall breaking here. Because, by the looks of things, Lumi's coming up the driveway and she's kind of the one in charge here. Daddy always told me when he'd be away and I'd be on Uncle César's shoulder making sure things went smoothly that if Uncle César didn't hand the keys back as soon as he came back, he'd be short a few toes. I don't know about you guys and I doubt Lumi would go to those extremes, but I like my toes. I'd rather keep them. So, it's been real. And it's been a good time hanging out with you while she's been away, but don't worry. I could be back one day. If this doesn't end before Lumi needs to do another hiatus, I'll gladly come back. I've learned the hard way to never ever say goodbye. That means you'll never see someone again. See you later is much better. You don't know how long later will be, but it's a guarantee we will see each other again. K, love you. X
…So…Did you miss me? x
We could be in our room right now. We could be getting drunk on good whiskey and finally getting that wicked round of sex we are both so in desperate need of. Or we could be balled up on our bed, sleeping like babies, content with the world. But oh, no. Where did we decided to end up instead? A fucking host club dinner. I mean, I wasn't exactly being blackmailed into it. I know Kyoya knew better than to run his mouth to Tamaki about my job at the Viper Pit. It's in Shinjuku and ran by yakuza. It's not like he'd come see my show. Yet, why the fuck are we here? Because I'm hungry and I'm not paying for dinner. I can't be too upset.
"Hey, Rei," Tamaki chimed, "Can I ask you something?"
"What is it, Tamaki?" I was smart and ordered espresso before we got any food. Not only was it a good idea to deal with the host club with a whiskey buzz, but a caffeine buzz can't hurt, too. That's why Four Loko and Jager bombs are a thing. And the occasional rum and Red Bull. That's some good shit right there.
"What's it like in New York?" he wondered.
"You've never been?" I had a hard time believing that one. All these boys seemed like they were well traveled.
"Nope," Tamaki shook his head, "I don't think any of us have."
"I've been a couple times," Kyoya admitted, "But that was a long time ago. Different timeline."
"Well," I thought it over, "New York…How to explain New York…It's a beautiful hub of culture clashes and constant motion. There's nowhere else like it in the world. It's changed so much over the years, yet at its core, it's still the same. And it's home. Why do you ask?"
"Because," Tamaki sang, "I was thinking about holiday travel plans and you always talked about New York, so…"
"No," I shot him down, "We got plenty for tourists. We don't need anymore."
"That does sound like a good idea," the twins agreed, "We should all go!"
"New York for winter break?" Kyoya thought it over, "That doesn't sound too bad. Count me in."
"What do you think, Haruhi?" Tamaki threw his arm around her, "You? Me? New York?"
"Hey!" Hikaru whined.
"What about us, boss?" Kaoru shared his brother's sentiment.
"Where's your sense of solidarity?"
"I mean," Haruhi looked to me for guidance. Unfortunately, I didn't have much to give her. I knew Ritsu and I were going to be going back to New York over the holidays and Haruhi knew that, too. There's no way she'd want to impose on us like that, but it'd be no imposition. Instead of giving her sage-like wisdom, I gave her a little nod. Because if the boys were coming to my neighborhood, there's no fucking way I'm dealing with them alone, "I guess that'd be ok."
"Yay!" the twins sang, "New York for break!"
No…Not yay. I just hope I can get the time off from work. My ass is not missing a trip home. Not when I've been away for so long already. Hopefully, Ryoichi will let me go. I mean, I have been quickly moving up the ranks around there and I'm pretty sure I'm his new favorite. He told Ritsu that himself. I was his new favorite toy. But then again, he also told me to go take his son's virginity after that, so that may still be up in the air. Regardless, I'm sure with the right set of words, the right outfit, and a little bat of the eyelashes, I'll have him eating out of the palm of my hand. And I'll be home for Christmas.
"Hey…" Ritsu gave me a little nudge, "I'm not feeling too hot, Rei…I think it's time we start heading back."
"Ok," I wasn't going to argue with him. Especially if he's not ok. And I sure as hell wasn't going to force him to sit here any longer, "Well, boys, as fun as this has been, we're going to call it an early night."
"Ok," Tamaki let us go.
"Good night, Rei!" the twins hummed.
"Night." And just like that, Ritsu and I were outside again. Although, I couldn't help but be curious. I knew a lot of Ritsu feeling like shit was typically a mental thing, especially with everything that's happened in the last week, but once we were back outside, he seemed fine, "Ritsu…"
"Hmm?"
"I'm going to ask you a question," I told him, "And I want an honest answer. Is that alright?"
"Yeah," Ritsu nodded, "Go ahead. What's up?"
"You're fine, aren't you?" I wondered.
A little smile stretched across that boy's face. I fucking knew it, "No. I was sick of being there. And would you look at that? I've made a miraculous recovery. I feel so much better now."
I threw his arm around me and laid my head against his shoulder, "I fucking love you."
"I love you, too," Ritsu snuck in a quick kiss, "Now, if I remember correctly, you and I have a bottle of whiskey waiting for us back in our hotel room. What do you say we run the bathtub and have a repeat of last night? Without you smelling like sweat and shame this time."
"Who says I don't still smell like sweat and shame?" I teased, "Maybe I'm still sweaty and shame-y. I mean, I did just come back from dinner with the host club. If that doesn't make me smell like sweat and shame, I don't know what will."
"I think you're delirious, baby," he chuckled a bit, "And I know damn well you are not cool with them jumping in on our New York trip."
"Hell no," I shook my head, "But lucky for us, it's a big city. And you can bet your ass that they're going to end up taking the wrong train at least once. Then, they're Jersey's problem."
"Oh, Reila…" Ritsu sighed out, "What am I going to do with you?"
"What are you going to do with me?" I asked, "I'll leave that one up to you. For tonight anyway."
"I'm thinking," he waved us down a cab, "I go turn on the bathtub. We angle the mirror just right. Turn on a movie. Drink until we can't see straight. Then, we go to bed. Sound like a plan?"
"Sounds like a hell of a plan," I wasn't going to say no to him. Look at that face. I know it's kind of rough and mean looking, but deep down, it's so fucking cute. If I could, I'd keep it forever.
By the time we got back to the hotel, I was ready to call it a night. However, the student advisor had other plans for Ritsu and me, "Mendoza!"
"Yes…?" I turned around on my heel.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Um…" I looked at her strange, "My room? If that's alright? It's been a long day and I'm kind of tired."
"With Kasanoda?" Shit…I should've known I could only ride this gravy train for a limited time.
"Yes," I nodded, holding my ground to the best of my ability.
"No, you're not," the student advisor shot me down, "There's a curfew, young lady. And we don't allow co-ed rooms on this trip."
Fuck…I knew it, "In that case, where am I supposed to go?"
"There's still one of the girls without a roommate," she checked her clipboard, "Come with me."
"Go on," Ritsu allowed, "I know it sucks, but it'll be ok."
"Ok," I threw my arms around him in the most chaste hug we've ever had. Yet, I stood on my toes and got in his ear, "You do know I'll be back tonight, right?"
"I'd expect nothing less from you," he hid a little kiss on my forehead.
Just what I wanted. My weekend with my boyfriend completely derailed because of Ouran's bullshit policies. In a perfect world, I'd be staying with Haruhi, but that would mean throwing her under the bus. I know she's in Tamaki's room right now. I'm not going to take her away from that. Just because I don't get to bunk with my man this weekend doesn't mean she shouldn't be able to bunk with hers. Besides, they act like I'm staying in the room once everyone's lights go out. I didn't the last trip. And I sure as hell won't be now.
The student advisor gave me my new room key and I braced myself for whatever may be waiting for me on the other side of that door. Looks like I'm going to make a new friend on this trip. Fingers crossed they'll be more patsy material than management. I took one deep breath and stuck my key card in the door. Don't be a stalker host club groupie. Don't be a stalker host club groupie. Don't be a stalker host club groupie. And don't be the type to sniff my pillow while I'm asleep.
When I pushed the door open, I needed that bottle of Hibiki back. I left it in Ritsu's room, though. Fuck me…A head popped out from around the corner, "Rei!"
Fuuuuuck. Just what I fucking needed, "Hi, Luka."
"I thought you already had a roommate," Luka wondered, "What are you doing in here?"
"I got moved," I did my best to keep a level head. Fortunately, I could feel my knife on me and that put me at ease.
"Yay!" she squealed, "It'll be like a slumber party."
"Yeah." I only went to a slumber party once in my life. I was about seven. Mama and Daddy were worried I wasn't being social enough, so Mama managed to get me into one of the girls in my second grade class's birthday party. Yeah. I called home real quick. It wasn't necessarily me throwing a fit that got me kicked out. It was me calling Daddy, begging to come pick me up because I couldn't stand any of the girls there. Luka would likely be no different. Without another thought, I threw myself onto the bed. My knife hid under my pillow, "Well, good night, Luka."
"Rei…" Luka sat on her bed, "Can I ask you something?"
"What?" I tried not to be bitchy because Luka didn't deserve that, but I couldn't help myself. My whole fucking weekend just got blown and she's in the splash zone.
"Why don't you like me?" Holy shit. Wasn't expecting that one.
"What?" I sat up, "What do you mean?"
"I just…" Luka sniveled a bit. Uh-oh. I only got room for one meltdown tonight. I can't handle someone else's, "I have this feeling you don't like me. Is it because I'm not like the host club boys?"
"No…"
"Is it because I'm not mean faced like Kasanoda?" her voice broke, "Because I can be! Watch!"
Oh, Luka…I pray for the man who ends up with you. She scrunched her face up, trying her damnedest to look tough, but I couldn't help but giggle. If we're being honest here, I needed that, "Luka…Stop. Stop with the attempts at a mean face. You just look like you're horribly constipated. It's alright that you're not like the host club or like Ritsu. It's not you."
"Then…" Luka started to settle down, "What is it?"
"Look," I let out a heavy, exasperated sigh. Maybe me being somewhat honest with her will get her off my nonexistent dick, "Growing up the way I did…I don't trust people easily. That's just a me thing. I didn't think you'd become a permanent fixture in my life, Luka. It's really nothing against you personally."
But then…A look sparkled in her eyes. One I wasn't thinking I'd see, "I'm a permanent fixture in your life…?"
"Well," I winced…Internally, of course. It's bad for the branding if I let her see me sweat, "You seem to be. Every time I'm hosting, you're usually in my section."
"You know, Rei," Luka smiled, "I'm glad we had this talk."
That makes one of us. Because I don't think you got the point of it, "Yeah. Me, too. And hopefully, you'll be a good cover."
"Cover?" Oh, dear, sweet, naïve Luka.
"Once ten o'clock hits," I filled her in, "I'm going back to my original room."
"Who was your roommate in your original room?" Luka asked.
"Kasanoda." That felt weird to say. I haven't called Ritsu by his last name in ages. Hell, I think I called him Ritsu our first time here.
"You can't do that." Oh, great. A law abiding citizen, "They don't allow for coed rooms. That's why you're here, isn't it?"
"Oh, Luka," I awed, "You're adorable. Really, you are."
"No," Luka put her foot down. Someone's feeling brave, "Really, Rei. I don't want you to get in trouble. And I don't want to get in trouble either."
"Alright…" Joy. Looks like I'm going to have to sneak into Ritsu's room and sneak out of my room. Always remember, kids. Snitches get stitches and I sleep with a knife under my pillow. Well, don't let anyone say I didn't like a challenge. If this was what it would take for us to make up for lost time, then so be it. Besides, we'd be back in town Sunday and off school Monday, so we could always do our own overnight trip. Hakone's always a good idea. Or Karuizawa. I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss Misuzu. And if we weren't feeling up to traveling, Ritsu could always crash at my place for a while.
Ring, ring!
Thank fucking Christ. I gladly jumped on my phone, "Hello?"
"Go out on your balcony," Ritsu ordered, "I like it better when I can see you when we talk."
I sure as fuck wasn't going to turn that down. I walked outside and closed the balcony door behind me, noticing Ritsu a few doors down. He gave me a little wave. I giggled and shook my head, "You're such a dork."
"It's better than nothing," he pointed out, "I miss you, Rei."
"I miss you, too," my heart snapped in two.
"So?" Ritsu wondered, "How's your new roommate?"
"My resident host club stalker," I grumbled, "I'm ecstatic."
"Sounds like it," he chuckled, "I'm sorry. I mean, it could've been worse."
"Yeah," I teased, "I could've ended up with some asshole with a mean face and a bottle of whiskey. He might corrupt me and take my innocence."
"Didn't my dad tell you to take my virginity the other night?"
"Yeah," I held back a smile.
"And yet, I'm the one who's going to corrupt you," Ritsu groaned.
"Hey," I argued, "Whose idea was it to sneak off before Abuelita's birthday party this summer?"
"You can't use that against me, Reila," he got up from his chair on his balcony…Our balcony, "You know how that ended up happening."
"I do," I nodded, "Luis told you that you didn't have the balls to do it, so you grew a pair."
Which reminds me, I need to send my cousin a fruit basket, "Well worth it, though, wasn't it?"
"Oh, hell yeah…" I missed our trip to Spain. That was fun.
"So," Ritsu hoped, "You are going to be back tonight, right?"
"Duh," I rolled my eyes, "You really think I'm going to let Luka stop me? Come on, Ritsu. Give me a little credit here."
"Sorry…" I missed him.
"Hey, Rei?" Speaking of Luka, she stuck her head out the door, "I hate to interrupt your phone call, but room service is at the door for you."
"Really?" I looked at her weird, "Ok. Hey, Ritsu?"
"Hmm?"
"I'll be right back," I put my phone on the railing and walked inside. What the hell would room service be bringing me? I don't remember ordering anything, "Can I help you?"
"I have a delivery for you, Miss Mendoza," he smiled sweetly, handing me a box of chocolate, half a dozen roses, and a glass with a deep brown liquid in it. And it smelled so good…
"Thank you," I melted inside. Gee. I wonder where these came from. When I walked back outside, I grabbed my phone and started nursing my whiskey, "Ritsu, I fucking adore you."
"I love you, too," Ritsu chimed on the other end, "Who was at the door?"
"Someone ordered me room service." And I was doing all I could to keep myself from crying. Not in front of Luka. Not again. She didn't need to see that.
"I might have made a little phone call when I got back to the room," he gladly took credit for that, "You were fucking miserable, Rei. You know what that does to me."
"I'm sorry," I bit my bottom lip, "I promise I'll be back tonight. Just…Let me wait until Luka falls asleep, ok?"
"I'll see you tonight, baby."
"Aishiteru…"
"Te amo."
Click.
Is it bad that I'm considering giving my roommate NyQuil? Because I don't want to wait much longer.
