Ch 1

"BRRRRRIIIINNNGG!"

The bell of the last class rang, but I didn't move. As much as I wanted to sprint free from this hell on earth they called a school, I willed myself to stay just a few seconds longer. As a sea of second year students from my class gossiped and giggled they're way out the door, I packed up my things slowly, silently counting the seconds till I could leave.

"Katayama, lights!" Sensei reminded me and was the last out of the room, and the only one to wave goodbye. I turned around to nod at Sensei and even tried a smile, but I was pretty sure it looked more like a grimace. I tried..counts for something right..?

Nope.

Sighing at no one or nothing in particular, I put my school bag atop my desk and proceeded to wiping the chalkboard and sharpening pencils. 'Lights' was sort of code for 'everything I, myself am to lazy to do'. He and I had sort of an unwritten agreement: I get a few simple things done for him after school and he gives me all the extra credit I need to pass his class. I didn't really mind it though as it gave me a few minuets to kill as I waited for the hallways to empty out a bit. That way I could finally leave, but without the crowds of ... let's call them 'eccentric'... kids I went to school with. I just liked it better that way. I finished with his pencils and tossed out some random pieces of trash that were littered around the back of the room before picking up my bag, switching off the lights, and locking the door until tomorrow morning. I leaned back against the door for a little while until there was only a few kids left in the halls. Then I closed my eyes. Would this ever end..?

I hurried to my locker and took out a stack of textbooks that were drowsily calling my name. This was what I get, I suppose, for deciding to take advanced placement classes. Loads of afternoons spent procrastinating which led to an equal amount of sleepless nights scrawling homework.

The fair pile of books were starting to numb my forearms as I carefully managed my way through the hallways. I poked around my stack of books again to see a clear path down the stairs ahead of me. I could make it; when didn't I? With my back pressed against the railing I took a shaky side step. Then another. And another, and- CRAP!

Not that it's unusual to see monkeys at Ouran, but let me be the first to say that the whole throwing banana peels everywhere was just not necessary in high school, where you can embarrass yourself all on you own. I didn't need the extra (and gross) attention when they throw it in the smack middle of your face. I wish I could say now was the first time it's happened to me..

My books spilled across the steps. Sighing, I closed my eyes and grimaced under the mush of the banana. At that moment an older girl I knew to be a year ahead of me walked up the steps in sync with her mindless little followers. Her sleek raven hair shined as the light caught it, the way her eyes did when she caught me, banana still well on face. Her two minions looked up at me not a few seconds later and straight up laughed in my face as there green eyed leader merely smiled deviously in my direction an bumped past me without a second look.

"Oough!" I flicked the peel off my face and turned around to see the girls prancing off into the distance. For a moment I was glad my face was covered in banana. That way, they didn't see my cheeks that welled up red with embarrassment. Gosh I should have said something back! I thought to myself angrily wiping off the remains of banana with the sleeves of my sweatshirt. I hated having no voice.. Not literally, of course, but it was just that I didn't use it much. I was quiet.. shy and I felt comfortable that way.. most of the time. Not that I had much control over the crippling anxiety I had. I'm pathetic. I kicked the nearest textbook on the steps. Hard. Maybe just a little too hard. I lost my balance on the edge of the step and closed my eyes tight, imagining the blow I was about to take.. but it never came. Instead I heard an "Oof!" and felt something too soft to be the floor. I kept my eyes shut for awhile a little afraid to open them. "Are you okay?" I looked up immediately to find a face a mere couple inches from mine grinning. Not only that, but it was a male face. I quickly became aware of the fact that we were on the floor and I was on top of him. With wide eyes, I gave a quiet gasp and quickly scrambled off of him.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine, are you?" I manged to choke out as I dusted myself off.

"You should be more careful new girl." He said ignoring my question and sitting up, himself. I furrowed my eyes in confusion and looked away from him, awkwardly scratching the back of my neck, when suddenly he leaned down and took my hand. I looked back up at him in surprise and as he tried to put his lips to my fingers I pulled away, embarrassed. Instead I just looked away, feeling the scarlet of my cheeks intensifying.

"Yeah.." I simply said getting up and gathering my books into a small, neat pile. His gaze, piercing a hole in my back, urged me to finish faster. When I finally had them all in my arms again, I gave him one last look. "Thanks." However as I turned away, he stood up quickly and skidded in front of me blocking my path, and almost making me drop my books again. He chuckled, and put a small little card on the top of my pile. "You know you should come visit my brother and I in the Host Club.." I gave him a polite grin and nod and quickly walked away somewhat insulted. I was not the new girl. Hikaru and I have been in the same class since kindergarten, although I knew I couldn't blame him for not noticing me. I was pretty much a potato in a room full of gems.

I spent the next couple of minuets pondering over what the hell had just happened. It finally started to sink in. Did Hikaru Hitachiin kind of, maybe, perhaps just possibly save me?! It was a bit hard to believe that someone like him would lend a hand to someone like me, but I decided to just shake off the weird encounter. I was more than ready to leave for home, when I found myself still playing with the mini "business" card the handsome boy had given me. My thoughts immediately landed on one of my two only friends at this school, Nisa. She was a regular at the Host Club and was completely infatuated with a boy named Haruhi. Nisa was just bursting with joy after her first visit to the host club. I wasn't surprised because even if things went wrong she would just babble on with positivity about everything. I remember meeting her when she needed a tutor... for everything. Her silly antics kept her completely unfocused in school so I was assigned to be her personal tutor. After spending so much time with her she actually found a way to open me up and become friends. And I was glad to have one.

After realizing that I had been staring at the card for so long I quickly ripped it up and threw out. Its not like I needed it anyways. On my way out I waved a quick bye to Nisa who was casually chatting outside with a group of friends. Nisa was quite the opposite of me actually, but maybe that's what made us such good friends. We balanced each other out in a way. She responded with a frantic waving of both her hands and a loud "See you tomorrow, Mayumi!" Shaking my head and smiling to myself I walked away toward the front of the school where a car would be waiting to take me home.

When I settled in the spacious leather seat and the car lurched forward, I stared out the window and into the reflection of my dull face. I had typical long dark hair, a pale complexion, and my mother's dark blue American eyes that hid under my glasses. Why would a guy like Hikaru Hitachiin notice such a plain girl like me anyways, I thought turning myself forward again and deciding to focus on the book I was reading. For a while I convinced myself that he was just courteous. However, in the back of my head I kept thinking of the hazel eyes that stared back down at me so strangely.