Chapter 3: I quit (by Serina)
The air was cool in the morning, and Haruhi had to wear an extra jacket over her uniform. She looked at herself in the mirror and scowled. She had just received a message from the rich jerk who forced her into that host club nonsense. All of those boys were just bunch of obnoxious fools, who had nothing better to do with their time, and were too selfish to understand that some people had to work hard to attend school. She grabbed her bag and ran out of the house without having breakfast. She was late for some stupid thing, and the guy with glasses threatened her in a message that he would raise her debt, if she wouldn't show up at the exact time.
The bus stop was full, and Haruhi had to stand, waiting for the stupid bus to arrive. After entering that damned music room she was extremely irritated by everything. It wasn't her fault the vase broke; technically she didn't do anything. She had been forced back when that rich bastard impolitely entered her personal space. She stepped back and the vase fell. Why is that everyone blamed her for breaking it? She didn't want to put up with it. It was not fair. No! No way she was going to pay for something that wasn't her fault.
Errand boy! What else did he wish for!? That guy was a devil. No matter what the others were designated, in her eyes Kyoya Ootori was the devil type.
She sighed and angrily rubbed her head, disheveling her short-cut, brown hair. What was she supposed to do? What would have been the most logical thing to do? Go to the club and announce that she no way was going to work there and be anyone's errand boy or girl. She smiled and nodded to herself.
"That is right!" she said loudly, attracting bystander's attention, "I did nothing wrong, and that jerk shouldn't violate my rights. I came to Ouran to study, not entertain some rich clowns."
People looked at her with surprise and some of them even smiled, thinking something was not right with her, if she was conversing with herself. She looked around and rolled her eyes. So what? She didn't care if people thought she was crazy; it was more important that she knew she wasn't, and that was all that mattered.
She noticed a fair-haired, tall man in a business suit, who attentively looked at her and nervously flipped a pen in his hand. When their eyes met, the man looked away and then walked to a car on the corner. Haruhi looked at him for a moment and then her bus arrived and she had to run to catch it. Her life became an absolute disaster after she entered that school.
She knew she was late when the bus stopped at the school. She also knew that she wasn't supposed to follow that idiot's orders. Just who did he think he was? She didn't have any obligation to come earlier and do anything for him. She decided that today she would put an end to this mistake and never ever bear a moment with any of those guys. Too bad the twins were in her class. That is until she felt someone put their hand on her shoulder.
"You are late, Haruhi," it was Kyoya Ootori.
She turned to him and looked angrily into his eyes that were hiding behind his glasses, "Am I?" she mumbled confused when he stared back into her eyes.
"You are," he smiled politely, but she could see that hidden nasty note in his voice.
"Haruhi, tell him!," she mumbled inwardly," tell him you are not going to pay for any vase because it's not your fault."
She already wanted to open her mouth, when the Ootori guy dragged her with him to the school. She didn't even know if she was supposed to push him away or follow him. She had to walk faster, because the guy had longer legs and his steps were too big compared to hers.
"Wait a second!" she yelled, trying to get rid of his hold.
He stopped and looked at her puzzled. Apparently he didn't expect that kind of reaction. She looked at him again and couldn't stop noting that the jerk looked good. No wonder girls were squealing around them.
"Yes," he quirked an eyebrow, and straightening his posture, looked at her.
Haruhi felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and stepped backwards. He didn't look that intimidating! What was wrong with her? If anything his face was cute.
"I have things to tell you," she started carefully, tilting her chin up and looking at him under her eyelashes.
"What?" he questioned her and she could swear he wasn't really interested to know.
She looked at him for another second and he grabbed her hand and pulled her with him.
"Will talk about it in the club," he said, "we need to prepare the room for today's cosplay of tropical paradise and we have no time."
Haruhi reluctantly walked with him; she had planned a lot to say and she thought it was best to do it in private without greedy ears of gossipers. She had to run up all of those stupid stairs and when they finally reached to the door of the third Music Room, she had to stop for a moment, hug her knees and catch her breath.
Kyoya Ootori looked at her with expressionlessly and sighed loudly. Haruhi decided the guy was annoyed with her for the break and shot a nasty glare to his direction. What did she do to deserve this? Why were there so many idiots around her? Seeing how irritated the guy got, Haruhi stood up, letting out a frustrated sigh and, walked into the room, leaving behind the handsome third Ootori son.
She needed to tell him what she decided. No way she was going to live like this. She didn't come to this school to have fun or play games with rich, careless boys. She had goals and she needed to dedicate her time to education. When she heard the door close behind her, a cold shiver passed through her body and she turned to look at the Ootori, who was wearing that smug smile on his face. She narrowed her eyes. She wanted to claw out his eyes. Idiot!
"Bring the costume boxes from the storage room. I have ordered exotic trees and they will arrive any minute, make sure to get some room for them moving the tables and sofas," he said casually and walked towards the sofa in the corner.
Haruhi couldn't believe her eyes. He wanted her to sweat like some horse. She rolled her eyes and strode to him. He suddenly stopped and turned to face her. This startled Haruhi, so much that she stepped backwards, then struggled to steady herself. She lost her balance and grabbed at the nearest stand. A vial that was on top of it fell down and broke.
"Seems like you are adding some more work for me to do," Kyoya sighed, disapprovingly looking at the liquid smeared on the floor, "that was an expensive exotic oil. I will add it to your debt."
"Why the heck do you keep an expensive, exotic oil in a damn host club?" she screamed and Kyoya looked at her confused, "is this some kind of massage salon for you? No! Wait! I don't want to know."
She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Kyoya stared at her in utter shock. Who did this girl think she was to yell at him like that?
"I think you don't understand-" he started, but was quickly interrupted by Haruhi.
"It's you who doesn't understand" she said, glaring at him, "Why should I pay you anything? Or even be here?"
"Because you broke the vase and I payed for it," he explained politely.
"Really?" she mocked, "how generous of you! I never asked you to pay for anything and I am not accepting the fact that you expect me to pay for that useless vase. It's your fault the vase broke. And how do I even know it was an expensive vase not some cheap copy, but even if it was the most expensive thing in the world I am not going to pay for something that fell down because you pushed me towards it. If anything you owe me a compensation for the torture I had endured yesterday, while you turned me into this," she gestured her hair and clothes.
Kyoya Ootori didn't know what to say. Was she serious?
"... and if you bug me, I will complain to the school disciplinary board," she continued, "don't think I am some idiot, you can use as an errand dog. I came here to study not bend my head to your whims. So pay for your stupid vase if you wish. I am leaving."
She turned to walk away and Kyoya looked at her dumbfounded. He felt so Tamaki-like that it made him really puzzled. He suddenly realized that she was walking.
"Wait!" he called and jumped forward to hold her back.
Suddenly he lost his balance stepping on the oily ground and grabbing her hand pulled her closer. But not being able to steady himself, he stumbled forward and pushed her down, falling on top of her. Kyoya Ootori had never had this kind of awkward situation in his life. He stumbling and falling down in front of another person and no more no less right on top of them. With confusion he realized that she was really soft and her body felt warm. Then he realized that his lips were glued to the girl lying right under him. He jumped up and they both stared at each other awkwardly rubbing their lips.
"I am sorry," he mumbled, looking away.
This was too embarrassing. He stood up and offered her his hand. She tentatively looked at him, her cheeks were flushed a very attractive pink and she was breathing hard, but she accepted his hand.
"Well," she said, looking away, "we are even. I pushed down your vase and you pushed me."
"What!?" he looked at the girl perplexed.
She had just been kissed and that was the first thing she wanted to say? Now, he was really curious about her. She was not like everyone else. She was so crazily different.
"Have a good day," she waved her hand and grabbed her bag to leave.
Kyoya looked after her. He didn't have any plans on how to act and he felt a small twinge of hate that she made him so powerless and lost. Who was this girl? And what did she just do? Maybe he should have left her alone. After all, she didn't seem normal. He was a perfect student and she could go around and tell people he forced her to join the host club against her will. That could be an inconvenience. He frowned. He needed to talk to this girl and make sure she understood she was not leaving without paying her debt.
He walked out of the room and saw her running down the stairs. This girl was a headache. He walked after her quickly, trying to catch up. When she turned into the corridor, he turned right after her and grabbed her hand, forcing her to stop .
"What are you doing?" Haruhi asked surprised.
"Isn't that obvious?" he asked coolly, "I am trying to catch a criminal, who wants to run away without paying for the damages."
Haruhi jerked away her hand and looked at him carefully. She should have known this guy would not let her go that easily. She sighed.
"If, instead of that vase there had been a sharp blade on that pedestal and I had walked into it while you were walking over me, entering my personal space without permission, if I had walked back and fallen on that blade and died., do you think I would be charged with accidental property damage, or you would be charged with accidental manslaughter?"
"What are you talking about?" Kyoya demanded already confused.
"Because it seems like if I was hurt it would have been your fault, Since it was not a knife or sharp blade but instead a vase was broken, it's completely my fault? I disagree," she explained, "at the time I said I will pay, I was really shocked because of your unwanted advances. So why don't we count what just happened as agreement and settlement."
"Oh," Kyoya said suddenly with a nasty smile, "do you think the police would agree with you, if we try to settle this like that?"
"Are you trying to intimidate me?" she asked, rising up her eyebrows.
"Think of it as you wish," he offered, "I don't like to be manipulated like this by you regardless."
She looked at him for a long moment. She didn't have time for things like this.
"How about I work in your club for 3 months," she said suddenly.
"Four," he said, offering his hand for a shake.
"Deal," she said shaking his hand, "but I am not working on my exam days."
She looked at him awkwardly. Something about this guy seemed so familiar, and she didn't know what it was. Did she meet him before? She shook her head. Of course, she didn't, how could she have met him and not remember?
"Now come with me," he said, "you should help me to set things up before the school starts."
She let out a frustrated sigh and followed him.
"About what happened earlier," he suddenly said, "I apologize."
"Are you apologizing for kissing me," she asked bluntly.
Kyoya looked at her clearly irritated by her straightforwardness, "I am apologizing for landing on top of you and touching your lips with mine, if you want to be technical, that hardly could count as a kiss."
"It was not a kiss?" she said thoughtfully, clearly not paying attention that she was contemplating about it not only out loud but also in his presence, "maybe wasn't..."
Kyoya suddenly looked at her with a smirk, "I could definitely show you the difference."
She turned bright red, and a furious blush colored her cheeks and she looked away clearly embarrassed. This Ootori looked so... She had to stop thinking about him.
"Get a grip, Haruhi," she whispered to herself.
"Thank you very much," she yelled, "you are not my type and it doesn't really matter, I don't care about kisses and all that nonsense. There are more important things in this world than your useless skills of kissing."
He laughed quietly amused. She was affected by him alright. She pretended she was not, but he knew she was. This little commoner was really extraordinary. She was unusual. Maybe his club hours wouldn't be as boring anymore. With that thought he entered the Third Music Room with Haruhi Fujioka, the newest host of the host club.