Chapter 18

KaoruxOCxHikaru

It was so nice to have things back to normal. A week had passed since the whole Chase epidemic and just when I thought that I had all the time in the world to spend with the twins…

"You're going on a trip?" I asked.

"That's right," nodded Kaoru, sitting beside his brother. It was after hosting hours, and we were all just lounging around, "we'd take you with us but-"

"Mother said it was a 'family' thing." finished Hikaru, "both our parents took some time off so they could spend quality time with us."

"Oh," I murmured, "how long will you be gone?"

"Only for a week," said Kaoru giving a reassuring smile.

"You won't have to live too long without us." nodded Hikaru with a smirk.

"What about the host club?" I asked.

"We talked to Kyouya about it already. He said he'd let our hosts venture elsewhere for the week until we returned." answered Kaoru.

"When do you leave?" I questioned, unsure I wanted to know the answer.

"Sunday." they both said in unison.

For some reason, even though it was only a week, my heart sank knowing that I only had tomorrow to spend with them until then.

"Where are you going, if I may ask?" I wondered.

"Your neighbor Canada," said Hikaru.

"Why there?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Our mother likes to ski." shrugged Kaoru.

"Take plenty of pictures." I instructed.

Kaoru laughed, "Alright."

"We'll come see you Sunday morning before our flight if you like." said Hikaru.

"I'd like that, but don't frustrate your parents. I don't want to be a burden." I answered messing with the tie on my uniform, trying not to look at them directly.

"We want to see you before we go." said Kaoru.

"We'd stay the night tonight, but our parents are being overbearing and want us to stay home so we can pack and such," said the annoyed Hikaru waving his hand in the air like it was nothing new.

"It's all right you guys, as long as I know you're having a good time, that's all that matters to me." I said smiling.

"Come on, we'll give you a ride home." said Hikaru rising to his feet, with Kaoru following suit.

I stood up and walked to their limo with them. The whole ride home I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd do for a whole week without them. They could see I was in deep thought so they didn't break my concentration. They just stayed huddled up close on either side of me and salvaged as much of my warmth as they could get. I almost fell asleep being wrapped in their blanket of love, but just as I was about to be in dreamland, reality tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, "You're home." Reality sounded just like Hikaru.

When they drove off I watched them disappear into the distance, before turning and walking to my door. They usually walked me to my door at least, maybe I did something wrong. When I got inside all I wanted to do was sleep, so I fell on my bed and clocked out at 6PM. Not like I had anything better to do. Until Sunday morning came around when I'd see them again, I had all the time in the world.

Saturday morning rolled around so I followed my routine, and then did some laundry. For the rest of the time I finished up homework and watched some TV. By the time that was all said and done it was only 1 o'clock. I was already bored to tears. Maybe I could call them… no that would be bothersome. They hadn't even left yet and I was already going mad!

I sulked in the sanctity of my bedroom; Flipping through the pictures on my camera of all three of us together. Come on Chelsea, get a hold of yourself! It's not like they're dead so stop acting like they are! I couldn't believe I was being this big of a baby about it.

My eyes stayed fixated on the ticking clock. 1:30...2PM…2:30...3PM. I was so bored… and now, hungry. I nabbed a box of cheez-its from my cabinet and slunk back into my room. Popping them into my mouth every so often as I stared at my calender… that's when something hit me.

Next Saturday was my birthday…

The twins wouldn't be around to spend it with me; and like that my depression level went from 99.99% to 199.99%.

Finally Sunday morning came. I was energetic that morning busily buzzing around after a good breakfast and awaited the twins' arrival. Even though in the back of my mind I knew they'd just be leaving again, being able to see them for a bit was an amazing thought.

When I heard a knock at the door I hurried to it, and opened it, trying not to be drastically over enthused. There they were, as handsome as ever standing side by side, "Hey guys," I greeted, letting them in, "how long can you stay?" I asked.

"Only about 30 to 40 minutes, mother booked an earlier flight." Hikaru said with annoyance.

"How have you been?" asked Kaoru embracing me, as if we hadn't seen each other in months. It sure felt like it.

"If I say horribly miserable can I keep you two?" I whined resting my head on his shoulder. I heard Kaoru laugh gently.

"It's only a week Yankee, you'll survive." said Hikaru with folded arms.

"Then you go and let me have Kaoru," I retorted with a glare.

This only irritated him some more, and I realized I had just said the wrong thing.

"I wish I could stay," said Kaoru playing with my hair, "but mom and dad are really excited over this whole thing…"

"I was kidding Kaoru," I said holding his face in my hands, "I want you to go and have a great time with them. They're never around right? So this will be a good opportunity."

He brought his hands up to lace his fingers with mine, "I'll miss these hands." he cooed, "but," he paused and kissed me deeply on the lips, "I'll miss those lips even more."

My face flushed and I embraced him, "Please don't go," I whined, and he laughed again.

Hikaru was now getting really irritated. I heard him tapping his fingers on the end table as he sat on the couch.

"Go show Hikaru some love too alright? Even though he's being stubborn and rude it's only so he can try to miss you less while he's gone." Kaoru whispered in my ear.

"Do I have to?" I groaned.

He smirked, "yes."

I walked over to Hikaru, who wouldn't even look at me, and decided to sit on his lap. His eyes looked at me, but only for a moment before snapping away again. His fingers still rhythmically tapping the table top.

"Oh come on Hikaru I was kidding." I said.

He looked at me again, and then looked away, "Get off." he growled.

Was he really that upset?

"Hikaru, you won't be able to see her for a week. Come on." protested Kaoru.

"I don't care…" Hikaru mumbled in response.

I felt like I was being broken. He didn't even want to look at me. Slowly I got off his lap, and looked over at Kaoru with disappointed eyes. I felt hurt. He didn't want me.

Kaoru sighed, and held me again, which nearly made me break into tears. The time had passed between us and Hikaru stood up, "I'll see you in the car." he told Kaoru, overlooking my very existence.

"Hikaru," I said reaching out to grab his arm, but he kept walking without even looking back. I looked back at Kaoru with tear filled eyes.

"Chelsea…" sighed Kaoru, as he pulled me in one last time, "don't let him get to you he's just being… well Hikaru." he kissed me on the lips once more before pulling away, "I'll make him call you later and apologize for being an ass." scoffed Kaoru, "but I should go now." He held my hands in his and kissed them both before we walked to the door. Giving me one last hopeful heart filled smile, he then left before he had the urge to look back again.

I cried for the rest of the day off and on. I couldn't get rid of the mental pictures that Hikaru left to haunt me.

When Monday at the host club rolled around, I didn't even sit with Haruhi. I sat on the windowsill with my MP3 Player blasting Iris by: The Goo Goo Dolls, trying to drawn out the world. I always listened to that song when I was feeling strong emotion… it was simply my favorite song of all time. While looking out at the garden I replayed the moment in my head that Kaoru and I shared together. It brought a faint smile to my face, as I placed my hand subconsciously against the glass.

"Poor Chelsea," Honey whined, looking to Mori, "She looks so sad."

Mori nodded his head in agreement.

"She didn't even come up and talk to me today like she always does." said Haruhi overhearing Honey's observation.

"I wonder if the twins knew…" Kyouya started to say, "That her birthday is Saturday."

"It is?" asked Haruhi.

"Yes, that's what her file says." he replied.

After a pause, Haruhi stood up, "Excuse me girls," she said to her customers. "It'll just be a minute." She then proceeded over to my window and sat across from me.

My eyes went to hers, and I pulled out my headphones, "Something up?" I asked.

"I could ask you the same thing." said Haruhi with a smile, "You okay?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I replied with a nod. My voice sounded different, lighter, almost monotone, but in a very child-like way.

"You know, I bet they're missing you just as much as you're missing them. What's funny is, if it were the other way around, they'd be sitting right here doing exactly what you're doing." she said.

I looked deep into her eyes before letting mine wander out the window, "I doubt that."

"I don't. They really care about you. I've never seen them so happy; when they walk in here, holding hands with you it's like they're completely different people then they were before."

My eyes reverted back to her, "Different?"

"They used to be so anti-social." said Haruhi, "Tamaki and Honey even said they never talked to anyone in middle school. They were always doing their own thing with each other." she grew silent to let her words sink it, "instead of being sad cause they're not here right now, you should be looking forward to the moment when they return. Look on the bright side instead of the negative that likes to float over your head like a heavy rain cloud, it only makes matters worse in the long run."

I sighed, and hugged my knees, "I made Hikaru mad before he left… he's probably happy to be rid of me for a while." I said resting my head on my forearms.

"Hikaru is… well Hikaru, if he doesn't get his way he acts like a little kid. I'd know…" she brushed her hair back.

"Why does everyone say that?" I asked.

She looked at me with a peculiar expression.

"Hikaru is… well Hikaru. Kaoru said the same thing." I mumbled.

"You haven't noticed his temper? His jealousy? The way he smirks when he has a clever plot?" she asked skeptically.

"But I love that about him," I said shaking my head and smiling, "He's just so… real. It's exactly what you said, Hikaru is Hikaru and he doesn't care if anyone likes it or not. No one does things their own way anymore, and I'm sure hearing that your bossy, fiendish and arrogant would weigh on anyone once and a while, but that is who he is."

Haruhi's signature smile appeared back on her face, "but Kaoru's so nice, and caring when he's not around Hikaru. And even when they are together he's 100% loving to you."

"Kaoru is amazing." I agreed, "if a boy could be pulled from a fairytale…" I shook my head, "he's the prince with no name."

She tilted her head, "Do you hear yourself?"

"What?" I asked confused.

"You love them. Even blind men and their seeing eye dogs couldn't miss what magic those two bring into your eyes." she stated.

I froze, and then sighed again, "Don't say that."

"Why?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"Cause I can't love them… I have to love him. One. Singular, and it's so hard Haruhi. It's driving me crazy. It gets so bad I feel like I'm going to throw up." I started to shake.

"Eventually it'll happen." she said simply.

"What will happen?" I asked.

"You'll tell one of them how you really feel. The one your heart picks, that'll be when you know." she said giving me a reassuring smile.

"I can't see myself hurting one of them… when I do… the pain that it would bring is worse than death itself." I said still trembling.

"Something tells me, when it comes down to it, the decision will be easy, and even though it may hurt someone there's no avoiding it. So just choose a path and don't look back or hold on to the what if's or what could have been's." she said looking out the window.

"Why don't I talk to you more?" I asked looking down at the ground below.

"Cause you already have your hands full," she said looking back at me, "but, what I really came over here to talk to you about, was your birthday."

My eyes darted straight back to her, "It's no big deal." I said shrugging it off.

"Not without them here huh?" she asked, and I cringed.

"Look, I'm not much of a party person. Birthday's just come and go like the seasons. Really it's not that big of a deal. It's just one more year older. What's to celebrate?" I paused and then gave a half smile, "this one year, when I turned thirteen, I remember I had this big party. It was more of mom's idea than my own, but she invited people from our neighborhood, including this one boy who I had a crush on. I was so awkward, same as I am now, but when I heard she invited him I was suddenly really excited for the party. My birthday came… but he didn't." I shook my head, "I was so stupid. Sitting up in my bedroom crying while a party was going on in the house all for me. I wondered what I had done to make him not come. Mom sent everyone home early, and came up to my room to give her advice, and then finished with 'Welcome to womanhood'" I laughed dryly, mostly because I was holding back some tears, "When she told me that, that's when I knew that no guy was worth the trouble. That dating was for the naïve and young hearted. It was overrated and always left someone hurt. So I just… never thought about it."

I let my mind wander for a bit before continuing, "I'll be seventeen, and it's sort of funny that history's repeating itself, except this time I won't have my mom there to tell me everything will be alright." I said smiling at her sadly.

I could tell that Haruhi suddenly felt really guilty. She took my hand and held it tightly. I just shook my head and wiped a few stray tears away, "I'll be fine, I always am."

"Oh what a heartbreaking tale!" chimed in Tamaki, "Really someone so deserving should have better men at her side! Those despicable twins! How dare they miss your birthday!?" he asked crossing his arms.

"I didn't tell them." I said.

"Why not?" asked Honey. When I looked up, the hosts, along with some of the girls had circled around to hear my story. It was sort of embarrassing.

"Why would I want to make them feel guilty?" I asked.

"If you would have told them, I guarantee they would have came back early just to spend your birthday with you." stated Haruhi.

"They're with me all the time, but they never see their parents…" my voice trailed off, as my eyes went back to the window, "I want them to spend time with their parents."

Haruhi realized it before I even did why I wanted them to spend time with their parents. Was it really because I couldn't spend time with mine anymore? That I didn't even have Grandpa around anymore to get a birthday card from, along with a big hug?

I sighed, and looked back at the audience, "You can leave now, show's over." Slowly they retreated back and I ran my fingers through my hair. When I looked at Haruhi, she had an expression I couldn't decipher, "What?"

"Just don't let it get to you too much okay? I'm sure once they figure it out they'll be sure to make it up to you." she said tilting her head.

"It's not that they're going to miss my birthday, it's that I'm missing them in general. I never thought I'd need someone else in my life, but sure enough I didn't know living until they came along." I stood up and grabbed my bag, "I'm gonna go home, I'll see you tomorrow Haruhi."

Replaying everything that happened at the host club that day while I laid in bed that night, I curled up into a ball with Iris on repeat. The sleep timer was set for an hour, so the song would lull me to sleep. Johnny Rzeznik's voice echoed in my ears as I drifted off.

And I don't want the world to see me, cause I don't think that they'd understand…

When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am…

I just want you to know who I am…

Author's notes: It took forever but here it is! Sorry it has taken me so long to update! Been kinda busy lately! As always leave me feedback, and have a wonderful day! I promise I'll try to update soon =[

Oh and just because I feel it's necessary…

Rest in peace Michael Jackson…