Hello. Come here often? Smiles flirtatiously. Welcome to Chapter 14. This one might be my longest chapter, but we'll just have to see.

Haruhi POV

"Now, tell me the whole story."

The boy took another gulp of the drink in his hand. "I moved here from a different part of Tokyo, and when we met, I thought she was a hindrance. But she got into my head, and made me think of myself like more than someone that has to do everything at once for everyone. She told me I needed to live my life how I wanted to. And I kissed her a few times. Probably shouldn't have, because now that's one more thing I regret about leaving her." He paused. "Why did I have to leave her?" His voice was cracked and sad.

I took another sip of my punch. "It wasn't your fault you had to leave, was it?"

He laughed bitterly, shaking his head, and it sounded slightly familiar. "I love her and miss her so much. And I am being so much more sentimental and insane than usual. I think I'm a lightweight."

I laughed and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I think I'm a lightweight too. It's okay if you love her, as long as you tell her. You can't expect her to just know. Not everyone can be as smart as...um..."

"Who? Is he your reason for being my buddy tonight?" There was an underlying little boy tone in his voice. "We're buddies, right?"

"Yes and yes. I love him and his intelligence, but he's going to leave soon, and I probably won't ever see him again. I originally hated him, because he had this arrogant, calculating personality, but he never took care of himself, and eventually when I reminded him to be nice to himself I saw all his good qualities. He is really very kind, and thinks a lot about others, but he somehow thinks that no one needs to see that side of him. It's kind of sad." I shook myself out of it. "But, he's moving away, and I should forget about him, or use his memory for something good."

Mask nodded. "Did you tell him how you felt either?"

I hesitated. "No. I thought about it many times, but I also thought I had the time to tell him."

"We're really in the same boat, aren't we?" Mask asked.

"Yes," I answered simply.

"Well," his expression brightened, "I think I've got an idea."

"What is it?" I asked, listening fully.

"Because we are both intoxicated but still able to make smart decisions, we should send notes to the DJ to read for the people we didn't tell our feelings."

"She's here, isn't she?"

"I'm pretty sure," Mask shrugged. His shoulders didn't seem used to the action, like he never was unsure of anything.

"Then," I started, standing and holding out my hand, "why don't we go?" Mask took it, kind of surprised, but strangely comforted. I saw it in the lines near his mouth. Everything about Mask felt familiar, like I'd once known him very well.

We wove in and out of the crowd, our hands linking two children that happened to be in the right place at the right time. When we reached the DJ's booth, where Kaoru was currently chatting him up, I said over the pounding, loud music, "We'd like to dedicate songs, please."

The DJ yelled, "That'd be fine. What would y'all like to say?"

I pushed Mask forward, but he didn't let go of my hand. "I would like 'The Only Exception' by Paramore. And tell her that I'm not claustrophobic anymore, so thank you."

I stared at him. "What was that?"

"She cured me of my claustrophobia a little while ago. I have been afraid of being stuck in small spaces since age ten, and I never said thank you." Mask smiled. "She rearranged my whole life."

"When is your birthday?" I asked cautiously, wondering if I knew the answer.

"November 22nd. I had a party with my best friends last week."

"Kyoya?"

"Yeah?"

I put a hand to my face, and took off my mask. "Haruhi?" His voice was small and hopeful. "You love me?"

I slid my fingers under his mask to stroke the bridge of his nose and his cheekbones, and ran a thumb over his eyelids, taking off the metallic, black cardstock. Kyo's eyes shone brilliantly, partially from the alcohol, but also from me. "And you love me," I whispered.

"Yep." One of his million yen smiles graced his features. "I love you."

I was sure my face lit up like the fireworks on festival days. "How is it that the two smartest in the second year were such idiots about this?"

Kyoya kissed me on the cheek. "Love makes fools out of everyone. I'm sure I've heard that somewhere."

He pulled me into the middle of the dance floor. "Let's waltz. I taught you how, after all."

I nodded, taking his hand and positioning m other hand where he'd shown me. As our feet began to move to the music, I realized how much this song reminded me of us.

"Maybe I know somewhere, deep in my soul, that love never lasts

"And we've got to find other ways to make it alone or keep a straight face

"And I've always lived like this, keeping a comfortable distance

"Up until now, I have sworn to myself that I'm content with loneliness

"Because none of it was ever worth the risk." Kyoya spun me as the lights began to shine on us.

"You are the only exception, you are the only exception

"You are the only exception, you are the only exception." The bridge of the song started as we circled the dance floor, letting people watch us in our happy moment.

"I've got a tight grip on reality but I can't let go of what's a part of me here

"I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up," the two of us clasped the other's hand tighter, "Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream."

I wrapped my arms around Kyoya's neck, and he pulled his around my waist in a slow dance. My lips brushed against his shoulder in the tux as I breathed him in. We just held each other close for a while, not speaking, because he understood, and so did I.

"And I'm on my way to believing

"Oh, and I'm on my way to believing." As the final strums of the guitar died out, Kyoya kissed me quietly. Neither one of us needed to hide our feelings, the problem was what to do with them.

"Hey, mommy," a voice behind me said. I turned to see my brother. "I have something the both of you might like to know."

Tamaki POV

Haruhi and my best friend were hugging in the middle of the dance floor when I found them. I knew the song must have been chosen by Kyoya, because he had good taste unlike my sister, and it must have been chosen for them. They probably had admitted they loved each other, finally. The thought made me smile, and Ume kissed me on the cheek when he saw it.

"How about telling those lovebirds some good news?" he asked, gently pushing me forward.

I cheerfully skipped towards Mommy and nee-chan. Before I could say anything, the two of them kissed. I had a overpowering urge to jump up and down with happiness. "Hey, mommy," I said when they'd finished, "I have something the both of you might like to know."

"Alright, Tama, what is it?" Haruhi asked.

I took a deep breath. "So, you know how you guys found me in an empty apartment at ten years old? That was because my mom died. She fell in love with Father in France when he was there on a business trip. Mom always said it was love at first sight. But he was married, and the matriarch of his family refused to let him stay with Mother to keep up the family's image.

"By the time Father had left France, Mom found out she was pregnant with me, and never told him. With money that he had sent her to take care of hospital bills, because she was sick, she moved the two of us to Japan, where Father was. Mom raised me without telling me who Father was, not even when she died and I was left alone.

"But I found him. His name is Yuzuru Suoh, and he never knew about me until a few days ago when I met him. Father is," I paused, a couple tears streaking down my face, "amazing, and he loves me already, even though we just met."

Haruhi reached her arms out to hug me. I gratefully fell into them. "It gets better. When we were talking, I told him about all of you, especially you," I said, looking over at Kyoya, "and he told me if all of us wanted to go to Ouran with Kyoya, he would fund it."

Mommy's mouth fell open, and I laughed. He must have gotten into the punch a little bit. "Your dad only said you had to go to Ouran, not that we couldn't follow!"

Kyoya walked off the dance floor and sat down in a chair by the punch bowl. "So, let me get this straight," he said slowly. "When I go to Ouran Academy, the entire Host Club, funded by your incredibly rich, long-lost father, is coming with me?"

"Yep!"

Mommy held out a hand. Haru took it, and it was pulled to Kyoya's lips and kissed. "Oh my dear God," he whispered. As his head came back up to me, I saw a very blissful smile spreading across his face. "There are many reasons why you are my best friend. This is one of them."

Hani POV

Takashi and I enjoyed the ball very much, but as people started to file out the gym doors, I noticed a strange expression on his face. This worried me, mostly since he was okay now and I was never going to let that happen to him again.

"What is it, Taka?" I asked, running my fingers over his nose.

He kissed my knuckles, shaking his head. "Well, alright then." I took his hand and began leading him through the gym. All the lights were being turned off as everyone vacated the place. Soon, there was a single light on, right in front of the door leading into the street.

When he stepped into the light, Takashi stopped me from moving further. "Do you need something?"

He shook his head, but didn't move forward. "Come on, write it down if you need to."

Takashi slid a hand into my hair, and I leaned into his touch. I wondered if he'd gotten taller recently, because his hand seemed to reach downward to touch me. He brought his lips to mine, and his mouth tasted sweet, like the cake I'd been getting into. But really, I could have been getting shorter.

When we broke apart, Takashi pressed his cheek to my face. I thought that was all he was going to do, but I was beautifully mistaken. "I...love...you," he said, his voice barely making it past his lips. Those were the words Taka spoke for the first time after the accident. He loved me.

Kaoru POV

Hika and I watched as our friends interacted and loved all night. We had put the vodka in the punch bowl, but only when we knew no one knew it was there except Kyoya and Haruhi. That worked better than we thought it would. Boss and his boyfriend had totally made out in a corner earlier, and we let them, without saying we were there. Mori and Hani-senpai walked out of the gym holding hands. The only ones left were Hika and me.

"Hikaru, everything is about to change for us," I said quietly.

"How do you know?" my twin asked.

"We have the Host Club, and we have each other. Isn't that a recipe for something new?"

Hikaru laughed. "It's a recipe for mayhem!"

I laughed too. "But you wouldn't have it any other way."

"Of course not." Hikaru stared off into space for a moment. "What do you think is waiting for us at Ouran High?"

I grinned. "Let's find out."

Yay! Just so you all know, I do not support underage drinking. Just no. I am a terrible person for not updating yesterday. I wrote half of this at about 6:45 this morning.