So I wrote two chapters today instead of revising for a science exam on Monday... It's not like I've been offered a conditional place to a really good sixth form or anything... Oh wait.
I also found that cooking is a fantastic form of procrastination, as you can eat what you make.
Ps. I had cake for breakfast.
This chapter I'm listening toooooooo: Mary Jane's last dance - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Chapter four/five whatever can't remember
We got Back late on Friday night, and there fore woke up late Saturday morning.
Usually, on Saturday mornings I might head for the library or something way less productive, but this Saturday I had to pack my things and head home for the week. Instead of having our break from school for two weeks in February - like most English schools do - Fickleberry Academy had strictly stuck to a 'one week off at a time' policy and therefore we got a week off in January and one in February.
During this week off, the English hosts of the Japanese exchange programme were to organise their own entertainment for their partners.
Crafty school, less planning for them.
I poked Haruhi awake.
She stirred slightly and then sat bolt upright, smacking her head against mine.
I retreated to my bed, running my throbbing temple.
"Good morning to you to," I mumbled.
I'm sure one of us would have apologized for the situation had Haruhi been less sleep or I'd not been trying to recover from the minor head trauma.
"Urgh, what time is it?" She yawned, stretching her arms above her head.
"10:30," I replied, packing my bag. I was already washed and dressed.
Haruhi quickly shed her self of the duvet and gathered clothes together, heading towards the bathroom.
This left me to daydream in silence.
It had been three days since the Ouran students got here, and I already knew them better than anyone in my school.
That probably shows what kind of person I am - I can't make friends unless they're forced upon me.
I knew this wasn't really the case though. I had had lots of friends at my old public schools, and I've tried to keep in contact with a few of them.
A smile spread out on my face as I remembered some of the things we used to do together, like the camp outs and the parties.
I've always got along better with boys than girls. So much so that it's rubbed off on me and I have to mentally force myself to be girly.
But girls are typically small and fragile. I, on the other hand, was 5"8 and had only just grown out of my awkward lanky phase.
I was glad that none of the host club had to witness that stage of my life.
Haruhi came out of the bathroom, towel drying her short brown hair.
"So what's the plan for today?" She asked.
I glanced at my watch.
"My step-dad is sending a driver down at half eleven, and then I suppose I'll introduce you to my family. Oh! I almost forgot, James Bird, you know, Mori's host?" Haruhi nodded. "He's having a party tonight and has invited all of the Japanese students and their hosts to go." I smiled, I probably wouldn't have been invited to this party otherwise.
I'd never been to a rich kid's party before.
When it got to half eleven Haruhi and I lugged our bags from the accommodation building down the gravel path and to the front of the school; Where a shiny silver Rolls Royce was sitting.
Discreet as ever Marcus...
The driver, who had informed me that his name was Henry, took our bags and placed them delicately into the boot, before ushering Haruhi and I into the backseat.
Haruhi was giggling as I tried to dissuade Henry from calling me Madam or Ma'am.
"Miss Summer, we shall arrive at the Herman residence at precisely 11:42. I hope the drive is comfortable."
I hate rich people.
"Do we have to dress up for this party?" Haruhi asked.
I shrugged. staring at the rolling hills out of the window. "He said casual."
Haruhi bit her lip.
"I think my wardrobe might be a bit too casual."
I looked over at her and smiled.
"Luckily for you, I have a habit of buying men's jumpers."
She rolled her eyes and we chatted casually throughout the journey.
Henry stuck to his word. We arrived spot on 11:42 at my step-father's house.
Despite how he keeps referring to it as 'our' house, I still feel in no way emotionally connected to it at all.
It's not my home, it's just a house.
Scratch that. I meant Mansion.
"Whoa," Haruhi breathed, a white puff of steam escaping her mouth as she exhaled. The tell tale sign of winter in England.
In most places I presume.
"That's what I said the first time I saw it too," I laughed.
The estate really was magnificent; with the huge, old fashion brick house - modified from an old grammar school - complete with conservatory, beautiful old greenhouses, a large field, with two lakes and a small orchard beyond the hedges.
I led Haruhi up the stone paved path, onto the porch and unlocked the door with a key.
"Welcome to the Herman Family Home," I said sarcastically when I opened the door to the entrance hall.
Haruhi's mouth was hanging agape and her head lolled back, taking in the whole room.
To the side was a set of stairs witch Henry was carrying our bags up, he'd insisted upon it.
"I'll introduce you to everyone before we go to my room." I led the Ouran student through to the lounge, where Marcus was watching some form of day time television.
He stood up, sweeping his fair hair out of his face and correcting his sloppy posture.
"Hello, you must be Haruhi Fujioka," he said, shaking her hand.
Haruhi nodded, taking in the appearance of my wealthy step-father.
He was dressed in a posh, pinstriped suit with a red tie but had the face of an aged rock star with faint holes in his earlobes where he had once pierced them when rebelling against his parents.
He was a thin man, and I noticed that Haruhi had spotted his mis-matching socks.
I smiled slightly at her confused expression.
"So what business is your family in then?" He asked, clearly assuming, as I had, that Haruhi also came from a wealthy family.
She shifted her feet nervously.
"Well, my Mother was a lawyer, but she passed away," Haruhi said softly.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Marcus nodded solemnly.
He didn't push the conversation further and let us go and find my mother.
I discovered her tending to the plot of soil she had developed by the greenhouses.
This patch of soul was not to be touched by the hired gardeners, as it was my mother's pride and joy. She'd dyed her hair since I last saw her, the blonde highlights gone, in favour of a bright red colour.
"Summer! You're home!" She squealed, straightening from her crouch to come and hug me hello.
This was one of the rare times these days that I saw my mother acting how she used to. She hadn't got a posh skirt of dress on and her hair was put up in a messy bun. I don't even think she was wearing make up.
"Who's this?" She asked, turning to Haruhi.
"Mum, this is my Japanese exchange partner that I told you was coming to visit. Haruhi, this is my Mum - Eleanor."
They shook hands and then we went inside because it was cold.
I didn't know where the ugly step-sisters were, and I didn't particularly care.
I led Haruhi through the house again and the up the stair case we saw on the way in.
I specifically requested to have the room on the top floor of the house - it was three stories tall.
It was a beautiful space with a slanted ceiling either side and a large round window at the end.
From the third story, there is a door, and behind the door, some small steps that led to what used to be the attic, but was now my room.
I'd hung various bits of flowing material from the other windows and along the far wall, opposite the round window. It's placed two beds either side of the window and layered the floor with rugs.
The middle section of the room was were my instruments, art supplies, books and other miscellaneous objects were kept.
The far side of the room I had turned into my own little sitting room.
My mother had let me have the sofa from our old living room. Across from it, I had a TV, sitting atop of a cabinet filled with all my DVDs.
Haruhi browsed them as I sat on the sofa and flicked through a music magazine.
"You have a lot of anime," she laughed, picking up one of the films.
"I haven't seen Princess Mononoke since I was a child. Oh! and My Neighbour Totoro!"
I put down my magazine and sat cross legged beside her.
"Do you want to watch an anime film? I suppose it would be interesting to see a Japanese film with an English dub," I laughed.
"I don't mind what we watch, it would be interesting to see some British television though."
"Hmm, well all that will be on at the moment is crappy daytime TV," I said, and then something caught my eye. "I HAVE THE PERFECT SOLUTION!"
I grinned and put the DVD in the Xbox (as I didn't really need a DVD player).
Five episodes of Sherlock later and Haruhi was hooked.
"You have to show me the last episode! PLEASE!" She begged as I laughed.
"No, the party starts at seven, we'll arrive at half seven and it's already half six. We need to get ready."
She pouted and walked over to her suitcase.
I followed.
"Come on, lets see what we have to work with," I said, encouraging her to open her suitcase.
She pulled out some tops and some jeans, none of them looked very party appropriate.
I pointed to some plain black jeans for her to wear and then asked her to follow me to my wardrobe.
"Where is your wardrobe?" She asked, looking around the room.
I laughed and pulled back the curtain on the far side of the room, to the right of the television, to reveal a small wooden door.
It was about half the height of a normal door, and I found it cute, so I requested it to be kept in the room and I'd use it as an entrance to my walk in closet.
Plus, it would be a great hiding place if there was ever a zombie attack or something.
We ducked through the door and straightened up in a narrower room - still with lots of space - with either side of the room covered from floor to ceiling with shelves and placed to hang my clothes.
"The only thing that I will indulge myself in now that I have enough money to do so," I laughed.
It wasn't that any of the clothes were particularly expensive - I just bought what I would normally buy from high street shops - It's that there was a lot of them.
I didn't see the point of buying clothes just for the brand or the label tattooed across the front, I just bought them if they looked nice.
"What's through that other door at the end?" Haruhi pointed to a door opposite the one we just came through.
Although this on was full sized.
"That's the ensuite," I replied whilst browsing through the clothes that Haruhi could try on.
I settled on a navy button up shirt with short sleeves and a grey sweatshirt with a black owl printed centrally on it to go on top.
I threw the items of clothes at her.
"Go try these on."
She nodded and headed towards the bathroom. I then spotted some brown and black vans and threw them at the backs of her legs - "and these!"
She just turned around and death glared me for nearly making her trip.
I smiled sheepishly and then turned back to look for clothes for me.
"Your bathroom's really pretty," she called through the door.
I laughed and yelled a thank you back - my mother decided to design it, giving it a 'seaside theme'.
We lived no where near the beach, but it was pretty.
I picked out some patterned leggings and a faded black - now kind of grey - band sweatshirt that used to be my Dad's. I wore a plain white t-shirt underneath for warmth and then slipped some high top trainers on.
This was one of these moments when I had to scold myself for not looking feminine enough, but I ignored the little voice in my head and even changed my t-shirt from plain white and form fitting to a thin, baggy grey top with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on.
I can't even help defying myself. Oh dear.
Haruhi coming out of the bathroom halted my internal argument.
"This outfit is so comfy!" She said swinging her arms around and moving her legs a bit. "The twins always make me wear things that are itchy, or poke my in weird places."
"The shoes fit okay?" I asked.
She nodded vigorously. "Yeah, perfectly. And they're also really comfortable."
Fortunately, and slightly embarrassingly for me, Haruhi and I had the same size feet.
Apparently my feet didn't get the memo about the growth-spurts and had therefore been the same size for about seven years.
We made our way downstairs and into the living room.
The brats still weren't there thank god.
"Could you call a car please? Haruhi and I have been invited to a party," I said to Marcus. He nodded without looking up from the screen.
"Does your mother know you're going?" He asked.
"I mentioned it." I said before leading Haruhi out the front door, where we waited in the cold for Henry to come and pick us up.
Only it wasn't Henry, this one was called Alexander.
I can't keep up.
I've already written the party chapter in a notebook, and will probably upload it shortly.
I just need to type it up.
Gah.
Happy reviewing ;)