Hey everyone! I'm so sorry this took so long! I just couldn't seem to get the words on paper this time... oh well, now you have this, the sixth chapter. On my outline, this was supposed to be just the first event of chapter six, but it stretched out so long, and I felt so bad about not updating, I decided to post it on it's own.

So, usually I don't do this, but here's the link to Haruhi's party dress. It's just so cute.

amazon .com/Rockabilly-Halter-Holiday-Cocktail-Sundress /dp/ B0019ALV7G

Enjoy!

Ootori Haruhi looked at herself in the mirror. It had taken three and a half hours, two hairdressers and a make-up artist to create the woman looking back at her. A woman she only vaguely recognized, though they met every time she had to attend a party.

Though she had been through the process of getting ready for formal events more times then she could count offhand, the results of all the fussing always caught her off guard. She couldn't never equate the elegant woman in the mirror with the harried law student she was so used to.

The Haruhi in the mirror looked like she belonged in the world of million dollar business deals, and parties where the budget for decorations alone swallowed the entire budget she had grown up on. A world of underhanded dealings, and two facedness. The Haruhi in the mirror deserved all of it. She fit.

The real Haruhi didn't. The real Haruhi felt out of place, judged, even though she'd been a part of their society for a decade. She'd been out of place at her engagement party, treated more like a prop then one of the guests of honor. It had been the same at their wedding. Stand still, look pretty. That was what she had been expected to follow.

Haruhi grabbed the sweater that had been shipped with the dress. It was flimsy, and she doubted it would really help if she were actually cold, but Hikaru took the time to include it, so she figured she should take it anyways.

The drive to the party was long, and sitting in the limo, alone with the brief flashes of street lamps only source of light made it seem like she was in her own little world. Time, and the drama of society, of life couldn't touch her here. Haruhi smoothed the red and white satin polka dot fabric of her dress over her leg, and watched the landscape whirl by in a blur.

She'd almost rather fight rabid wolves then get out of the car alone. She couldn't help but feel nervous, even though she had no reason to be. She alternated between rolling the hem of her dress between her fingers, and clutching her tiny black bag with nervous anticipation.

What would the other guests say if she showed up alone? She didn't think any one else knew of her problems yet, but people would certainly start talking when she showed up alone. No one showed up alone to these if they could help it.

The car slowly rolled to a stop, jerking Haruhi out of her thoughts. She couldn't fathom why they were stopping, unless it was simply to wear on her already frayed nerves even more. She wanted to just get this night over with.

Haruhi looked out the window in annoyance, staring at the dark lawn across the street. The door opened, and Haruhi gasped when she heard someone climb in with her.

Were they being held up? Haruhi tried to go through all the headlines in the latest paper, as she began to call out to the driver, to anyone. She didn't want to die!

"It's just me. You don't need to panic." The irritatingly calm voice of Ootori Kyoya, her husband, made Haruhi grit her teeth. How could he do this to her? Didn't he realize how much his unannounced comings and goings affected her?

"You're going through an awful lot of trouble to avoid me." Haruhi grumbled, refusing to look at her new companion.

"I had a business meeting that ran late. This isn't the first time you've come to pick me up before a party. Now, let's not fight. Tonight's supposed to be fun, right?" She was almost persuaded by his soothing words, but she recognized the syrupy tone as one he used to make friends with potential business relations. He was still upset with her.

Why he chose to go through this petty, playground style fighting, Haruhi hadn't a clue. It would have been so much easier for them to just talk about whatever was bothering him. For her to explain that the rumor he had heard was a load of bull.

She'd do it now, if she hadn't made that damn promise to Kaoru. Why was it so important that she stick to her word now? Certainly the younger Hitachiin wouldn't mind that she told, if he knew it may be the only thing to save her marriage, he would probably insist on it. But she just couldn't do it.

The rest of the ride went on in an uncomfortable silence. Though Haruhi was too stubborn to turn and acknowledge him, she found that if she looked out of the corner of her eye, she could see his dark outline in the window, and it comforted her, to know he was there.

After what had seemed like an eternity, they arrived at the Hitachiin mansion. As soon as the car glided to a stop, Kyoya opened the door and stepped out, offering a helpful hand to Haruhi. She looked up at him, the shadows of the car parting only enough so he could see her face, and stepped out on her own. Kyoya was slightly shocked, she had purposefully ignored him.

"Well," she asked, turning to face him, "are you coming? Or would you rather spend your evening with the car?" Kyoya might have smirked at what Haruhi considered an insult, but he was far to distracted by how she looked to care what she was saying.

"I thought you were going to look presentable." He asked, looking over her dress one more time. It had to be new. He was sure he would have remembered it. The red satin dress clung to her like a second skin, a complete juxtaposition to the sundress cut of the garment.

He must have been blind when he thought she hadn't changed since high school. She filled out this dress better then high school Haruhi ever could.

"The dress came with the invitation. It would have been rude not to wear it." Haruhi started walking towards the doorway without another word, but Kyoya noticed that she did shrug the black cardigan over her shoulders on the way up.

Kyoya followed her, shaking his head. He couldn't shake the feeling that something simply wasn't right.

Also, as a present to those of you still reading, I present this

youtube .com /watch?v=l9W75J0Fsfk

I've been dabbling in video making, and since this story was inspired by the song Fall To Pieces, I decided to make a trailer set to that song.

It's not the best. It's only my second video ever and it only took a few hours, but if you want to check it out it'd make me very happy!

Let me know what you like/didn't like, think/predict/feel!

XOXO

Belle