Wow, it's been a while! Haha. Sorry about that guys, I really am. Things have been crazy lately with school and I just never had time to write. Things are quieting down now so I'll definitely try to update at least once a week! So I hope you look forward to this chapter!

Chapter Three: Friends and Hosts

Akira knew she had fainted. She had never handled the heat well. She came to when Kio slapped her lightly across the face while shouting her name.

"Akira, wake up!"

Her eyes fluttered open to find Kio standing over her, looking worried, while Aira sat on the edge of the fountain, looking bored. Like she didn't care Akira had just fainted.

Akira sprung up, pushed Kio out of the way, and grabbed Aira's arm forcefully.

"Why are you just sitting there? Weren't you worried about me at all?"

Aira sighed. "Of course. But I knew you would be fine, since Kio put her handkerchief in the fountain and put it on your head to cool you off."

"O-oh." Akira loosened her grip and let Aira's arm fall. "Sorry for grabbing your arm like that."

"It's no problem," Aira said, standing now.

They started walking home in silence when Kio asked, "So why did you faint anyway Akira?"

Akira almost tripped. "U-umm.. you know I can't handle the heat well. I got a little too overheated is all."

She laughed, but it was shaky with nervousness. That was only half the reason. She didn't want to disappoint Kio by not going to the Host Club with them, so she left that part out.

"Oh. Okay. Well I'll see you guys tomorrow then?"

They already made it to Kio's house. "Yep," Akira and Aira both answered. Aira didn't live far from Kio, yet she still took out the book she had gotten from the library earlier and started to read it. She even went a block past her house before she heard Akira telling her to turn around.

"Bye," Akira waved, but Aira offered no reply and went on reading. Sometimes I wonder how we became friends, Akira thought.

*~ The next day ~*

All day Akira couldn't help but remember events from the day previous that she would rather forget forever. The way Aido had seemingly come out of nowhere and saved Aira, how seductive his voice had sounded when he asked if she needed any help.

Then there was the fountain incident.

I only have two more hours of freedom. What can I do?

The minutes ticked by, faster and faster it seemed. And in no time at all, and to Akira's horror, the final bell rang. She rose slowly from her seat, head hung. She didn't last long before Kio come up behind her and threw an arm around her shoulder.

"Excited? I sure am! I could hardly sleep last night, I couldn't stop thinking about this. I also heard a rumor going around that there's going to be more Host Club members! Isn't that great?"

Akira forced a smile on her face. "It's... lovely."

Kio steered Akira out the classroom door, where they saw Aira, Hikari, and Mori waiting. Aira looked bored - as always - but Mori and Hikari were practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. Hikari had her blonde hair up in two high ponies, which somehow brought out her blue eyes. Mori's hair almost matched Hikari's eyes, but Mori always liked to say it was more of a sky blue than anything, while her eyes looked like chocolate.

"Alright, since everyone's here... let's get going!" Kio announced.

Everyone but Akira let out shouts of joy, while Akira silently groaned. She didn't want to be fawned over and told fake compliments by - although very attractive - very fake males. The affections they showered out didn't mean a thing, and Akira knew it. She just wished the other girls would too.

Dragging her feet as she walked, being told multiple times to hurry the hell up, Akira wasted as much time getting to the door of the Host Club as she could. The line was surprisingly short for once, and Akira's group got inside in less than twenty minutes.

The room was decorated like a Hawaiian resort, of which Akira loved.

Whoah whoah wait, she thought, I can't look like I actually LIKE this place...

Akira looked around at her other friends' faces. Each had their mouths wide open; their eyes sparkled in awe. Kio was the first to regain her composure.

"This is AMAZING!" she exclaimed.

Hurriedly, Hikari, Mori, and Aira all nodded in agreement. Akira smiled awkwardly. Just then, a group of boys came up to greet the eager teenage girls.

"Welcome, beautiful young ladies, to the Host Club!"

Akira knew that voice. The way he made himself sound absolutely princely - Tamaki Suoh. The King of the Host Club. Akira tried to make herself shrink as little as possible.

"Let me introduce the lovely Hosts who will entertain you ladies this afternoon," Tamaki went on. "The Twins, Kaoru and Hikaru Hitachiin."

The Twins took Hikari and Mori's hands and led them into the tropical foliage.

" 'Phantom' Dark Mousy."

Dark took Kio's hand, at which Kio swooned and almost had to be carried by Dark into the foliage.

"And Aido Hanabusa."

Aido stepped forward, and since Akira had nobody else to hide behind, he saw her.

"Akira?"

Aira spun around and looked at Akira in shock.

"You KNOW Mr. Hanabusa?"

Aira's voice was so loud, it echoed to make it seem like a thousand Aira's were accusing her. Kio was not yet far enough away, and she heard Aira's accusation.

"WHAT?"

Hehe, yeah... the ending is kinda iffy. I had a hard time trying to end it. I know how I wanted it in my head, the words just didn't want to come out on paper right. But anyway, I hope you liked this chapter! Same old same old; hope you point out any typos and please please please review! :D