Disclaimer: Hatori Bisco owns Ouran High School Host Club and its characters. I am not Hatori Bisco. Therefore, I do not own OHSHC or its characters. Hmm something in math class was actually useful, who knew?
A/N: Sorry about the wait for this chapter. The next one will be out sooner. Hopefully I will get a few more out before school starts on the first for me. After that, it will be whenever I can manage. Well, read!
Chapter Seven: The Rain
In which we see how the sisters view storms, and how they cope.
Another sleepless night was all that awaited Abby. She was occupying herself by counting all the specks on her roof. Four thousand forty-five, four thousand forty-six…the glowing red numbers on her alarm clock stated that it was only four-twenty AM. Only two more hours until she would just give up completely. She hadn't pulled an all-nighter for awhile. Usually she at least got an hour or so of sleep, yet it completely eluded her this night.
After another half hour, she heard the quiet pitter-patter as raindrops fell from the heavens. The sound they made soothed her, but did little to lull her to sleep. Sighing to herself, she pulled off her blankets, and slid out of bed less-than-gracefully. She half-walked, half-stumbled over to her dresser, and opened the drawer with some difficulty. She really needed to organize it one day, instead of just shoving her clothes into it until it couldn't hold anymore. Rummaging, she yanked out a pair of black sweatpants and an oversized white t-shirt. She pulled the shirt over her head and over her black tank top. She then pulled the sweatpants over her spandex shorts. Her task completed, she moved towards her door, careful not to make too much noise.
She trudged down to the bathroom as silently as she could manage and turned on the light. She grimaced at her reflection. She had serious bags underneath her eyes. She kind of resembled an anime character a friend of hers had a poster of. That was not good, considering she thought he kind of looked like a panda. Oh well. She grabbed a hairbrush, and tried to tame the mess she had the misfortune to call her hair. It was sticking up in every direction imaginable, and refused to stay down. She even went so far as to try and wet it, but that just made it messy and damp.
Eventually, she gave up and left the bathroom. She walked back down the hallway and passed by her room, stopping only long enough to shut the door. She made her way to the front door and sat down as she pulled on her converse shoes. Standing again, she grabbed a plain black pullover sweater and threw it on, raising the hood. Checking to make sure her key was in her pocket, she unlocked the door and stepped out, closing and locking it behind her.
The rain was falling at a steadier rate now and harder too. Not that she cared. It was still warm enough outside that the sweater wasn't really needed. She was used to even colder weather at times. Anyways, she loved the rain. The more intense it was the better. In the distance, she was able to hear the gentle rumble of thunder. It made her smile as she walked away from the apartment building.
Back in her own room, Dawn was woken from her half-dreaming state by the opening and shutting of a door. She heard distant footsteps slap against wet pavement. She guessed that her sister had left. She looked over at the clock, seeing that it was five AM. She could hear the rain beating down on the building. It made her shiver. She didn't mind the rain, but she wasn't a huge fan of thunderstorms. She could live through them, but she just preferred that they didn't happen.
She groaned as she lay back down in her bed. She didn't want to get up yet, and had only been somewhat sleeping for three hours. Her mind seemed to be on the permanent annoy-the-shit-out-of-Dawn-state that it was favoring lately. For some reason or another, it wouldn't shut up and leave her the hell alone. Actually, it wasn't so much her mind's fault tonight as it was the letter that she had read. Because of that stupid thing, she wasn't able to sleep.
The rain's pace quickened, and soon she could feel the millions of small droplets beating against the building. In the distance, thunder began to rumble. Shivering, she pulled the covers up to her neck, and settled further into her bed. Again, she didn't like the rain, but she could deal with it like she always had. She would make her way through it on her own.
Abby felt the rain pelt her relentlessly, as though condemning her and trying to send her back inside for safety. She wasn't going to give in. She welcomed the chilly drops as they soaked through her sweater and down to her skin. She welcomed the thunder rumbling grandly, and the lightning starting to flash across the sky.
Eventually, she reached a small park she had seen a few blocks away from her apartment. She was somewhat shocked she had managed to find it without getting lost. It was deserted, which was to be expected when it was five o'clock in the morning and pouring outside. No one in their right minds would be out here. Abby supposed it was a good thing she probably wasn't in her right mind; no one in their right mind would live life like she did some days. Most people would be sane enough to do something, anything.
She went up to a lonely swing and sat down on the cool wet plastic seat. She gave herself a push, and slowly began to rock back and forth. Over the rain, she could hear the creaking with her every movement. She wasn't sure why, but being in a storm made things seem better to her. It was so...intense. When you stood there, you could feel the energy swirling around you. You could feel each raindrop fall to the ground; each flash of lightning made your hair stand on end; each peal of thunder made you shiver. It made her feel like dancing. She remembered a song she had heard some time ago. She wasn't sure of the name, but she remembered all of the words. She began to sing softly to herself.
She never slows down. She doesn't know why but she knows that when she's all alone, feels like it's all coming down. She won't turn around. The shadows are long and she fears if she cries that first tear, the tears will not stop raining down. So stand in the rain. Stand your ground. Stand up when it's all crashing down. You stand through the pain. You won't drown. And one day, what's lost can be found. You stand in the rain. She won't make a sound. Alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands she'll fall down. She wants to be found. The only way out is through everything she's running from wants to give up and lie down. So stand in the rain. Stand your ground. Stand up when it's all crashing down. You stand through the pain. You won't drown. And one day, what's lost can be found. You stand in the rain. So stand in the rain. Stand your ground. Stand up when it's all crashing down. Stand through the pain. You won't drown. And one day, what's lost can be found. So stand in the rain. Stand your ground. Stand up when it's all crashing down. You stand through the pain. You won't drown. And one day, what's lost can be found. You stand in the rain.
The words were moving, but they were set to sad music. She almost wished she could be like that, but knew that it was a vain hope. She wasn't an inspirational song. She was just the lonely and sad music. She wouldn't be able to stand up, even if she wanted to. She had given up trying.
Dawn had now covered her head completely, and did her best not to cringe every time she heard the raging storm outside her window. It killed her to admit it, but she was scared. She hated storms, and hated being alone through them. But she had never known any other way. As kids, she had had her sister in the room, but whereas she was scared, Abby would be excited, and would often sneak out to watch it. Her parents weren't the kind who would come to see which of their daughters was crying and keep her company. They would rather ignore any sounds the heard. She had always weathered the storms on her own.
A large streak of lightning flashed across the stormy sky, lighting up her room. Immediately after, there was a colossal clap of thunder that shook the apartment. Crying out, she fell out of bed, taking the blankets with her. Whimpering slightly, she moved to the corner of her room, and huddled there beneath her blankets. She hated it; the intensity of the storm scared her. Each clap of thunder shook her to the bone; each streak of lightning sent her cowering. Each raindrop that fell made her cringe. It made her feel like she was crumbling; like the whole world was going to be torn apart.
This was the one and only time she would show herself. This scared girl was more here than the one she pretended to be. It was so easy to pretend that she was cool, and unafraid of the world. Most days, she came across as a bitch. But, deep beneath her facade, there was a little girl who still was afraid and alone. She refused to turn to anyone for help, but secretly hoped someone would come anyways. She had wished that someone would have climbed in bed beside her when she was little and helped her endure the storm. No one ever had. She had hoped that someone would stop him from doing what he did, and save her. No one did. She had prayed that someone, anyone, would see that no, she was not okay. No one even noticed.
She had to ask herself, when had life become the twisted game it was now? A game of lies, and playing pretend. True manipulation and making your way through without notice, only to strike when it suited you. You played swiftly, and carefully, never bending the rules or you were beaten back and left to restart again. Never show your opponents your weakness, or they will take advantage of it. Never show emotion...never show trust...everyone is in it to win it. Life was a cruel game. No one knew all the rules, but wouldn't hesitate to punish those who broke them.
Dawn was unsure what her goal was. Right now, all she did was move forward quickly, trying to outrun the past. Another clap of thunder sounded, and she closed her eyes. If only she could outrun the fear, the pain, and the longing she had always had, but never full filled.
Abby stood slowly again. She was completely soaked from head to foot. She wished she could take the feeling from the storm and keep it. She was not able to truly feel it for herself. She had long ago lost all fear and pain. All feelings of hope. All that was left was a bitter anger and a feeling of longing. She had never understood it, but there it was. She made her way slowly back to her place, seeing no one. The storm soon quieted, she was sat in her room, ready to face the rest of the day however she could.
A/N: okay, so this is mostly a filler. This was more or less to give a better view of their personalities. Abby likes storms because of all the emotion they help her feel that she doesn't normally since she represses them to the point she doesn't realize they are there. Dawn dislikes them because they bring up the feelings she is trying to hide from and ignore. Next chapter is where you will find out what is going to happen with them and the host club.
Here's the review replies, all fourteen of them!
Dreamaker401: haha yupp they did. And I'm not sure either. Thanks for your review!
Blue-Eyed-Demon: sorry it took so long but here it is. Hope you liked it. Thanks!
AbbyinUnderland: yay icy luffles it! That makes me happy and thanks so much for the truffle bombs.
Sakurasaprentince7: lol I'm glad you liked it. And the song. A friend of mine played it for me, and I fell in love. I actually saw the singer in concert! Ya...if that happened to me...yikes...thanks so much!
Supergirl501: believe me, I had a fun time trying to get in his head to think up the plan...but I did it! Yay same here! Haha yeah I liked that bit as well. ^-^
Kura and Hana: haha your reviews always make me laugh and yay cookies! I'm glad I'm one of the few. I feel special! Teehee shifty eyes. Byez to you!
MistressTaco: yay! I'm glad you like it. Oh I would so make them mine if I could…but sadly I cannot. Ahh hope you had fun! Thanks a bunch!
Hiezen Uchiha: aww thank you. And that's interesting. Hmm that's somewhat similar to them, but who knows how long it will last right? Thanks for your review!
Ayaka Haninozuka Sohma: Yay! And yes they are perverts. Aww poor bob misses you too. **bob smiles** there ya go! Thanks!
Aqua-wolfe: thank you so much! I'm glad you think so. And I would so do the same, after blushing like crazy first. Bob says hi as well! And yes you get cyber cookies!
Aurdox: wow…thanks so much for the review! I gave you a long reply already so I won't repeat any of it. But again, thanks so much and I hope you enjoy the rest!
Inktail097: haha thanks. I like doing that as well. Thanls for your review!
Dream Theme: thank you bunches! Hmm interesting. I love the twins as well! Oh cool! Now bob can have another friend! Is his name Tomithy or Timothy though? Lol thanks for the review!
I'm-amazing-deal-with-it: yay I updated! Again! Sorry it's a bit later than I said, but technically I haven't gone to bed so for me it's still Saturday which was when I said I would update, even though its technically Sunday…that makes sense right?
Thanks for reading my four thirty in the morning babble! Oh and on a special note, next chapters notes and replies will be joined by Bob (yay!) and Moribox2 whose on loan from LittleBlondeSpazz. Woot! Okay I'm done now. Night all! Or I guess Night/Morning! R&R!