I pulled up my bike sharply to the curb in Ouran High's student parking lot. My thoughts were in complete turmoil, raging unhappily within my head, wanting to spew themselves out. I cannot believe that my parents are making me go. I don't care if I have to go to keep up appearances or some such nonsense. My parents are lawyers, not wealthy fools and I see no reason why I have to socialize with a group of spoiled, selfish brats at some ridiculous event the money for which could probably have a thousand other more useful uses. I mean, I socialize with the Host Club, but that's different! I hate rich parties! My gaze shifted to Kitty, who seeing the expression on my face said,
"Hey Kin! I was wondering if your parents were making you go, also." I didn't have to ask to know what she was speaking of. Katherine's parents were throwing a formal party at their second home, a mansion that night, and my parents were requiring me to go.
"Yes…and I don't want to go…" I told Katherine unhappily. She answered me,
"At least you're not alone. So my mom wants me to get a new dress, somehow I've managed to tear up all the dresses I own running around in them, and I also haven't gotten a new dress in years. So do you want to go dress shopping with me? I promised to go buy you books after, courtesy of my parents of course." I frowned, debating in my mind whether having to go through the horrible agony of trying on dresses was worth getting more wonderful, wonderful books. I have been dieing to finally get my hands on that new translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, its supposed to be fascinating, but it's so expensive and my parents spend enough money on my books already…but dress shopping? With shiny, slippery fabrics and actual human interaction with creepy salespeople, I don't think I can stomach it. But books…
"Well…I do need a new dress also. And I still get the books right?" I said quickly. Katherine smiled, knowing she had successfully used her knowledge of my love of books to get me to come with her.
"Yes, you get to buy as many books as you want, though there are shoes too…" I couldn't help sighing at that statement. By this point Katherine and I were in the Music Room where the Host Club hosted their activities, Katherine had wanted to say goodbye to Honey and Mori-sempai.
"Sure Ellie, as long as I get the books I'll go dress shopping with you." Just as I had gotten my temper, which had been fluctuating madly ever since my parents told me, under control, the twins appeared. Hikaru and Kaoru said in unison,
"What's this we hear about dress shopping?" I scowled darkly; these twins were testing me on the wrong day. Curling my fingers into a fist I hit each of them on the head and said sharply,
"None of your damn business you annoying twins." Katherine grabbed my hand and gripped it tightly, saying to the twins,
"I just came to ask Haruhi something and to say goodbye to Mitsukuni and Takashi. Come on Kin." She towed me away from the twins and over to Haruhi. I attempted to pull my hand free from her grip however it was proving useless. I wanted to go and yell at the twins and perhaps keep myself from combusting with anger but I was too frazzled to concentrate on working my hand loose so Katherine was holding me with ease. Katherine was oblivious to my attempts to escape, instead saying to Haruhi,
"Hey Haruhi, can I ask you something?"
"Sure?" Haruhi's face looked completely bewildered and slightly frightened as she watched me desperately try and make Katherine let go of me as Katherine realized for the first time I had been trying to get away.
"Oh…don't mind Kin, I think she just wants to go kill the twins." Yes, and you won't let me go Ellie! Please, let me go kill the twins! "Anyways, I was wondering if you wanted to come to my father's party tomorrow. I would have asked earlier, but my mommy didn't tell me until today. I could give you a dress to borrow, not one of mine, but a dress." For God's sake, stop rambling Katherine! It's making the anger inside of me more frenzied! "So can you come, you could spend the night at the mansion tonight with Kin and I if you'd like?"
"Mansion?" I could understand Haruhi's confusion. Katherine's parents owned two homes locally, one for day to day living, and one for parties and maintaining the appearance of traditional wealthy living.
"Oh…it's for parties…"
"Yeah…I guess that would be fine. I don't have any plans for tonight or tomorrow, and I already finished my homework. Though I don't have a clue where your mansion is…"
"Kin and I could come get you after we go shopping, don't ask about that…and then I could say hi to your dad again! Okay, so we will come get you in three or four hours I guess." Haruhi nodded and Katherine turned and left the Host Club, pulling me behind her.
After several hours more than I could bear we finally finished shopping and left the mall. Katherine purchased a beautiful strapless red and white gown. The gown was perfect for her, it fit her small frame nicely and the red complemented her dark hair. She, in truth, looked like a fairy tale princess and I suspect that she felt like one too. She only enjoys these parties a little more than I do, but she does love to dress up. She also got and a pair of red heels to match. Katherine adored heels, they made her appear taller and made people believe she was older. I despised heels, Katherine had once taught me how to dance in heels, however every time I could, I avoided wearing them. All sense of coordination I possess immediately leaves me as soon as I step into a pair of heels. Despite this, I bought a pair of gold heels to match my golden gown. It was actually quite pretty, almost worth spending a number of torturous hours looking through miles and miles of satin and lace as irritating salespeople prod at you and ask about your personal life. The gown was a pure golden color and feel to my ankles; however in the front it was short and layered with strips of gold cloth.
We ended up even buying a dress for Haruhi; Katherine could not resist it when we discovered a silver-white evening gown and a pair of white heels that would look so elegant on Haruhi. I was pleased because we had found something that actually fit Haruhi's quiet and sensible personality, nothing like those ridiculous pink dresses the Hosts are always throwing her into. We headed back to the mansion, picking up Haruhi on the way. That night we watched a few random movies each of us had selected and generally had a great night together hanging out, waiting for the ball the next day.