Chapter 2

School was a disaster. It was like walking around naked, my sister not being beside me made me feel exposed. I felt miserable mostly because I felt exposed, but also because there was nothing I could do about it. I knew no one in my classes and they seemed to all know each other. I was an outsider.

I had not been at Ouran Academy till this year. Our father had decided he wanted us to have the best education. We hardly saw him since he worked so much to keep money flowing, doing many extra shifts

At lunch time, I decided that it would be the best time to take a look around for music room #3. I dodged other students as I walked, keeping my eyes on the maroon caper on the floor, which cushioned the feet, typical for rich people standards.

As I was about to turn the corner into another corridor I heard voices that made me pause.

"Are you sure it's this way?" I heard a very familiar voice ask

"Yes, trust me, my older sister used to come here all the time" someone else replied.

My sister and her friend passed the hall in which I was hiding without even noticing I was standing there. I had pressed myself up against the wall and now hung my head down.

What am I doing? I asked myself I've always told myself that Chou could have him, that I didn't care.

The feeling inside me though, pushed me saying I had to see him, but I had seen him, so shouldn't I be satisfied?

When I heard a door shut, I turned to peek around the corner at the end of the hall. At the end of it was a pair of closed, double doors with a sign beside it announcing it was Music Room #3.

I shook my head and stepped into the hallway looking at the room a moment longer then turned and walked the opposite way. I should have never let that idea enter my in the first place. I slowly walked away, my eyes glued to the floor.

"Were you actually considering taking up Tamaki on his offer?"

I looked up to see Haruhi. She was a small girl with chin length brown hair and large brown eyes wearing a yellow bow in her hair that matched the Ouran girls' uniform of a yellow dress, "You didn't seem the type." She continued, her tone was flat but not rude. I felt my face heat up. She cocked her head and looked at me as if debating something "Are you afraid to go in?" She asked though it sounded more like an accusation.

I shook my head but she seemed to ignore it.

"Don't be afraid, I'll go in with you, Tamaki is expecting me anyways." She grabbed my arm turning me around.

"I shouldn't" I quickly replied, my face growing even redder. I didn't want to face Chou; I knew she would accuse me of following her or something of the sort. She was always so different around her friends. I sighed, would is matter if I walked in?

Haruhi smiled at me when we reached the door and then she opened it turning the golden knob.

The room seemed to be a whole new world. In fact, the place was covered in Persian rugs and vases, and there was a fountain in the center of the room. It looked like a place right from the story of Aladdin. The tables were low to the ground and instead of chairs to sit in, it was pillows of many colors. I could also recognize the members of the host club by their cosplay to fit the setting. The first person I noticed was Tamaki. He was spotted sitting on the floor on a Persian carpet sitting up straight and nobly. He wore a vest that showed his bare chest, baggy pants, and wore no shoes. He was speaking with a dozed look in his blue eyes and the girls around him were blushing and seemed entranced by whatever he was saying. I had to admit he was very good looking with his golden hair hanging pleasantly in his face. The thought of Haruhi and him holding hands, and her standing beside me was enough to tear my gaze away though. I spotted my twin near the fountain in the center of the room and her friend, either searching for something…or someone, and so I quickly threw myself behind a pillar.

"What are you doing?" Haruhi asked looking at me curiously

"oh…n…nothing…" I replied with a forced giggle. She looked away from me examining the room before looking back at me.

"Are you hiding from your twin?" she asked

I blushed "No, of course not!" I said indignantly

She gave me her same look of trying to figure something out, but I was thankful she said nothing more.

"Haruhi!"

The sound almost made me jump but I calmed as another boy came over to Haruhi with a clipboard in hand, as he scribbled something onto it, "your services are required" He stated to her without looking up.

This guy was good looking as well, with black hair that slightly hung in his face, and glasses that gave him the cool guy look.

"Yes Kyoya, sorry" Haruhi replied turning to him and then glancing at me over her shoulder before walking away.

Kyoya then looked up from his clipboard, he had a stern, yet curious expression, "Guests should be having fun, not hiding" He stated

I held up my hands, my face flushed "No, no…I'm not a guest, just…an on looker."

I could tell he didn't accept the answer, "What is your name"} He asked looking back at his clipboard, ready to write

"Ayome Takada" I replied, I couldn't help wondering what he was writing down.

"Come, I will find you a host away from Chou, Tamaki has already informed me that you earned a free day today"

"How did he know my name?" I asked but Kyoya was already walking away. I hurried to follow him keeping a careful eye on the rest of the guests, I noticed Chou talking to Tamaki and looking angry. He seemed flushed in an attempt to calm her down. This made me curious, what had upset her so much today?

I had to admit, Chou had quite a temper when she got angry.

"Tetsuya, you have a guest," Kyoya said

I looked around Kyoya to see who he had led me to; it was a young man with long blonde hair tied in a ponytail down his back and cheerful blue eyes. He also had a clean shaven face and wore a little boy type expression. He was dressed in a robe of dark blue and had a head dress which he had hanging around his neck instead. He sat no silk pillows and had not one girl around him.

Kyoya sidestepped from in front of me "Enjoy" He stated and taking his clipboard, he walked away.

Why do I keep getting stuck with strangers? I could help but wonder

I looked at this guy I had just gotten stuck with, he smiled.

"Take a seat" He suggested, and I did because at the moment my nerves were shot. I hadn't talked to so many people in my life.

I sat heavily down on one of the pillows on the other side of a low standing table, a little surprised by how comfortable it actually was. When I looked at him he had a smile of understanding, "First time here?" He asked

I nodded

"I'm Tetsuya, a third year, no need to be frightened"

"I'm Ayome, first year" I replied softly tearing my eyes away to look at the floor

"Well, Ayome, since you're new, let me introduce you to the Ouran Academy host club"

I looked back up at the young man, he stared me in the eyes, it was a gently gaze the made me unafraid"

"Now, our club president you might know, Tamaki Suoh?"

I nodded again

"I thought so, he is a 4th year here at the Academy, Kyoya Ohtori brought you to me, he is the club accountant, and pretty scary sometimes, he's a 4th year as well…oh and that's Ritsu Kasanoda," Tetsuya tilted his head in the direction to indicate who he was talking about. I turned to find a flame haired guy across the room surrounded by girls, he was leaned back on his pillows dressed similar to Tamaki, just with a full shirt on, and on each side of his head was a girl feeding grapes to him. From my point of view, he seemed arrogant.

"Then, we have our latest member" Tetsuya continued and I turned back to him "Umehito Nekozawa, also a 4th year" He pointed to the farthest corner of the large room, it was strangely dark but it didn't stop me from seeing a strange figure wrapped in a black cloak, and talking to a couple of girls, Nekozawa didn't fit the theme of the room at all. "He used to be the president of the Black Magic club, but when two of our members graduated Tamaki managed to coax him to join"

At that moment Haruhi came over and placed a tray of cake onto the table in the center of us "cake?" She asked

"Sure!" Tetsuya said with a friendly smile

Haruhi sat down on one side of the square table and gave us each a piece of cake and a fork. I wasn't hungry, but I took it anyways, I was beginning to relax slightly but not enough to eat anything.

"Good thing Kyoya handed you off to this guy" Haruhi said taking a bite of her cake. She was still in her school uniform though she had kicked her shoes off and was now barefooted.

"Well, Kyoya doesn't like losing guests" Tetsuya replied

"Very true"

"Testsuya was just telling me about each member" I put in

"Oh yes, I guess the only two you have not been introduced to yet, are the Hitachiin brothers" Tetsuya stated

"Yes, but unfortunately, one of them is not here so the other cant do their act to attract fans" Haruhi added

"Actually, isn't that Hikaru over there by himself?" Tetsuya asked pointing in a corner away from all the rest of the people

Hikaru? I wondered so that's what his name is?

Sure enough, it was him, sitting in a corner with his legs drawn in close to his chest. He looked like a lost child.

Haruhi and Tetsuya were talking but all my attention was drawn in by him, by Hikaru, until I heard my name

"Ayome, are you okay?" Haruhi asked

I blushed a deep crimson "I'm sorry,"

"Would you like to introduce yourself?" Tetsuya half asked and half suggested

I shook my head "n…no…thank you" My heart beat against my chest at the very thought.

"Hey, Hikaru!" I heard Tetsuya calling across the room before I could say anything more.

Hikaru looked up with his deep brown eyes.

Tetsuya motioned for him to come over with a wave of his hand.

Hikaru got up.

My legs began to tremble beneath my skirts and I felt weak just watching him walk over with long strides. A couple girls gathered around him with sympathetic looks and he nodded never missing a step, and in a few moments he was in front of us looking down.

"Hey Hikaru, you looked lonely, join us?" Tetsuya offered

"You have a guest" Hikaru replied

"No, she's a friend, Ayome"

"Come on Hikaru!" Haruhi assured him

On her word, Hikaru sat. He was beside me and I felt my heart would thump right out of my chest! He looked at me then "Ayome huh?" he asked, no recognitionat all in his eyes. It hurt. I nodded.

"Gee, you don't talk a lot" He continued. I couldn't stop staring at him, he was so close. Finally I set my plate of untouched cake down on the table and stood up.

"I must be going" I muttered before turning and quickly walking across the heavily decorated room.

I was shaking but I wouldn't break down, not here.