After so many chapters of ramble, this story is finally getting somewhere! Yippee! Sorry if it's been kinda slow… (I am a world expert on the art of the ramble XD)

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran, though it is awesome (:

Chapter 12: The Party

For some reason the Host Club had managed to move the twirling sakura petals from the club room door to the opening of a gazebo in the middle of the school grounds. These people really thought of everything.

I was on the school grounds, surrounded by an endless array of hectic fangirls. Each was sporting a handful of brightly wrapped presents in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Beside me, Kita and Fuiju were giggling manically with delight.

"Let's go!" they said determinedly, leaving me with a burdening feeling.

I could only watch as they pushed themselves to the front of the squealing crowd, sending fangirls sprawling left and right in their wake. Sighing, I sat down wearily in one of the supposedly "commoner" chairs (which probably cost around three hundred dollars each).By merely watching, I was already exhausted as the fangirls fought like wild animals in order to reach Mori first. I covered my ears protectively. The noise was excruciating.

In true commoner style, the hosts were wearing a wide variety of multi coloured party hats. Helium balloons in the form of love hearts were placed at strategic points around the gazebo. A gigantic cake in three fancy tiers lay royally on a small white table. I half expected it to collapse with the amount of stress placed on it by the monstrous cake. By this time, Mori was totally surrounded by a great mountain of gifts. I estimated it to be around five metres high and seven metres wide. It was a major wonder that he could even breathe in there.

"Aren't you going to see Tono?"

I froze. It was Kaoru.

"You did request him, right?" he asked innocently, feigning ignorance about my plan.

"Yeah," I replied quickly, jumping up to leave. "I'll be going then."

I stumbled over the grass in my impatience to escape him. My eyes began watering, both from the pain and the surprise encounter. For the past week, I had managed to avoid him completely, even in class and the Host Club. Why ad my clever plan ceased to work? I didn't even understand why I cared about it so much anyway. So what if he had turned out to be a plain jerk? It wasn't as if I'd never met one before. I was a strange person. Gritting my teeth, I continued to walk away.

Tamaki was entertaining his guests in the antique gazebo, far away from the chairs and Kaoru (he'd had the gazebo dismantled, flown in and put back together for the purpose of this event). How exactly this was in the 'commoner style' was completely beyond me. Shrugging, I ascended the marble stone steps. At least Tamaki will be happy to see me. I thought miserably as I sat down with the other girls, He's weird, but I think he loves all of his fangirls.

As he was entertaining some other poor girl, I sat placidly in the queue. There were about four fangirls in front of me. Deep in thought, I wondered about this idea as I waited for my turn. Was this what Kaoru was talking about when he had said that I could hurt Tamaki? No! I told myself sternly, shaking my head firmly.

I didn't want to think about him.

"My princess!" Tamaki gushed, his violet eyes glittering with enthusiasm. "Are you enjoying the party? Did you know that commoners have these sorts of parties all the time?"

"Of course I am!" I exclaimed, fawning. "But… I would have preferred it if it was just the two of us, Tamaki-Sempai."

"Don't worry, my dear," he assured, leaning in close and taking hold of my hands, "Next week, I'll sweep you away and take you to our very own private commoner's party."

The fangirls beside me shrieked excitedly. I tried my best to do the same. Although I was still getting the hang of this squealing thing, I'm positive that Tamaki was convinced that it was authentic.

After about twenty minutes of what was, for me, pure anguish (I was trying to avoid Kaoru and control myself in front of Tamaki at the same time), Honey bounced up to the gazebo, his brown eyes gleaming in excitement. Even more little flowers were floating around his head than usual.

"Takashi is going to cut his cake now, Tama-chan!" he revealed breathlessly.

He looked so animated that it was as if it was his birthday, not Mori's. Leaping about, he skipped off back to the action. I suspected that he really, really wanted a slice (or two…) of that cake.

"Coming, Honey-Sempai!" Tamaki replied joyfully, his face lighting up, "Let's go, my princesses. I promise that you will all have the biggest slices available!"

Enthusiastically, he gracefully led each and every one of his customers over to the white table. Girls were already filing up for the first slice of the cake. After all, Mori had cut it with his own hands. Smirking, I observed that Honey had already taken the prime spot right before the cake itself. Whatever happened to ladies first?

Eventually, it was my turn. Tamaki offered me his hand.

"No thanks." I refused politely.

"Aren't you going to have a slice?" he asked, hurt, "The top two layers are pavlova and lamington. Kyoya had them shipped in from a top chef's kitchen, all the way in Australia."

"I don't really like cake much." I replied, disinterested. "So, what's in the first layer?"

"A special vanilla cake with strawberry icing made especially by Haruhi!" he answered proudly like an over affectionate parent, "I told her that it would give the cake a special commoner feel! I can't wait to try my adorable little girl's cooking!"

He bustled off over to the unsuspecting Haruhi, who was gazing at the clouds, zoned out. "Haruhi!" he called, enveloping her in an enormous hug, "Can I have the first taste of your cake?"

"No." she replied shortly, sending Tamaki instantly into his emo corner.

As soon as he was out of the way, the twins placed a hand each on Haruhi's shoulders.

"Can we have the first taste of your cake, Haruhi?" they asked, grinning slyly.

I jumped behind the gazebo to listen in to the conversation. I didn't want Kaoru to see me. Cautiously, I peeped around the swirling pole to find out what was going on. "No way," she replied cuttingly, "You should know that the cake is for the guests."

"But we want to try the commoner cake!" they grumbled in unison.

"You can have the scraps," she replied firmly. "If there's any left after the guests have had some."

I laughed discreetly. Haruhi was an expert. She knew exactly how to handle the strange whims of the hosts.

Crouched in my ultra secret hiding place, I was fairly certain that no-one would find me. However, I'd never been an expert at hide and seek. "Why are you hiding behind the gazebo? Does Tono annoy you that much?" asked a voice behind me.

"Eeek!" I yelped loudly, nearly jumping out of my own skin.

Turning around wearily, I saw that it was Kaoru. What was he doing here? He had made it plain that he thought I was ridiculous. Why did he keep stalking me? "You freaking scared me." I complained shakily, my heart continuing to beat at a phenomenal rate. "How did you even find me?"

"No offence, but you're not exactly the best hider," he explained.

"None taken." I replied sarcastically, rubbing my head from where I'd bumped it on the pole.

"You alright?" he asked, sounding worried. "Do you need a doctor?"

"I'm fine." I said dismissively, "No thanks to you, though."

Still trembling, I brushed the dirt of my dress (I'd slammed to the floor in my fear) and hoisted myself up. "Sorry for causing trouble as usual." I apologized quickly, "I'll be going now."

I began to walk away again. Was it just me or was a pattern beginning?

"Wait," he said suddenly, clutching the yellow hem of my school dress.

I turned around in surprise. I'm sure that my expression was one of shock. "Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked, sounding authentically confused.

"I haven't been." I insisted, lying through my teeth.

"Come and join the celebrations," he suggested happily, "I'm telling you, Haruhi is the best cook around. Don't let her commoner looks fool you!"

Before I could protest, he hoisted me out into the open. "Tono!" he called cheerfully with me in reluctant tow, "You should keep a better eye on your customers! This one here has an appalling sense of direction!"

Tamaki looked shocked and upset at this cutting comment. Beaming, Hikaru decided to add to his pain. "Shame on you Tono," he scolded, shrugging his shoulders sadly, "What kind of host are you, letting your customer get lost? That is just shameful!"

"What?" Tamaki objected angrily, "I would never do that to my precious guests!"

"You lost one of your guests, Tamaki-Sempai?" Haruhi asked, shaking her head in mock despair, "I thought better of you…"

"Don't believe them, Haruhi!" he pleaded desperately, becoming even more agitated by the second, "Daddy… Daddy would never lose one of his customers!"

This party is turning out weirder than I expected, I thought to myself as I laughed for the first time in days.

H