Chapter 12 | A Winter Ball and a mean girl

~Arabella's POV~

Ugh! I am so late right now...! I just hope being late doesn't mean Kyoya will add on to my one million yen debt...

That stupid debt is already higher than it needs to be...!

I was about to make it to Music Room 3, when I was sidetracked.

"Oh, well would you look who it is...! It's Miss I-Get-All-My-Clothes-From-Goodwill!"

I groaned and turned around to see probably the girl that makes fun of me the most on a daily basis.

Sakura Yamaguchi.

"What do you want, Sakura?" I asked, irritated.

During the first week here at Ouran, Sakura gave me very unwanted fashion advice saying that whoever dressed me should be hanged for crimes against humanity (and fashion). She also told me that Godzilla called and wanted his face back.

That, and also several other handfuls of insults.

"Look, nerd, I've noticed for the past couple of weeks since you came here, you've been hanging around the Host Club lately. And, that CAN'T happen." Sakura said.

"And why not?" I shot back.

"Because, the Host Club belongs to ME as well as the rest of their regulars! And we don't need some bitch like you rolling in and ruining what we have. So, I'm gonna say this once and only once: BACK OFF," Sakura said. "Either that, or I can make your life a living nightmare."

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Oh really? I'd like to see you TRY." I said.

"Oh, trust me, you'll see it alright. This is my final warning: leave the Host Club ALONE." Sakura snapped.

"Whatever you say, Sakura." I snapped before I turned and walked away. I don't have time to deal with her right now. And, thanks to her, I'm now more late than I was before.

Great.

Soon, I arrived at Music Room 3 and went inside.

Kyoya immediately walked up to me. "You're--"

"Late? I know. Sorry." I said as I walked in.

"Someone seems like they're in a sour mood." Kyoya said.

"I'm fine. I just had an encounter with--"

"Sakura Yamaguchi? Typical." Kyoya interrupted me.

He as well as the rest of the Host Club know my current relationship with Sakura. Fortunately, however, ever since I joined the Host Club, Sakura stopped coming to our club hours. So, that's nice.

It gives me and the rest of the Host Club a break from her.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who hates her.

I approached a table where everyone else was sitting.

I sat down, so did Kyoya.

Tamaki cleared his throat. "Okay, everyone! I hereby call this Host Club emergency meeting to order!" he said.

"Emergency meeting?" I repeated.

"Is that why we're here? It better be important, I was in the middle of studying for mid-terms." Haruhi said.

"And I was in the middle of studying for a math test." I said.

Tamaki gave us both a look. "Of course it's important, my little girls! I wouldn't call you all here otherwise! I'm holding this emergency meeting because of something that was just brought to my attention!" he said.

"And what's that?" Hikaru and Kaoru asked.

"I was informed that the annual Winter Ball is coming up and that it needed a club to sponsor it." Tamaki said.

I've heard about the Winter Ball, everyone here is treating it like some big thing.

"Tell us you didn't--" Hikaru and Kaoru started.

"I did! As of yesterday, the Ouran Academy Host Club is the official sponsor of the Winter Ball! Which means that we're in charge of planning the ball, decorating the gym for it, providing food for it, and also providing entertainment for it! Doesn't that sound fun???" Tamaki said happily.

"No, milord, it really doesn't." Hikaru and Kaoru said.

"Don't tell me we have to dress up too..." Haruhi mumbled.

"Of course we have to! It's a ball that we're sponsoring!" Tamaki said. Haruhi sighed.

"Great... Uncomfortable dresses... Hooray...!" I said sarcastically.

"When is the ball, Tama-chan?" Honey asked.

"Right before mid-term exams week; December sixteenth." Tamaki said.

"Oh... Okay... Cool..." I said.

"Yeah..." Haruhi said.

"Wait, is it one of those dances where you have take a date? 'Cause I am so NOT looking forward to no one asking me just because I'm not like any of the rich girls at this school... NO ONE'S gonna ask me." I said.

"You could just ask someone instead of waiting for them to ask you." Tamaki suggested.

Oh joy... Now instead of no one asking me, I'll have to get turned down repeatedly... Yay...

What a great solution, Tamaki... NOT.

"Oh... Because that's so much better...!" I said sarcastically. "Well, I'm not asking anyone."

Kyoya shrugged. "Suit yourself. But you're going to look utterly ridiculous standing around at the Winter Ball, the only person without a date." he said casually.

I looked at him.

Ugh... I just... I hate him some times...

"Plus, I'm pretty sure one of your customers is probably dying for you to ask one of them to the ball; you wouldn't have trouble finding a date." Kyoya added.

I groaned. "Fine. I'll ask someone. Happy?"

"Very." Kyoya said.

"So, it's settled! The Ouran Host Club is officially going to sponsor Ouran's annual Winter Ball!" Tamaki said excitedly. "This emergency meeting is officially over. We'll meet back here tomarrow to discuss the preparations for the ball. Everyone can go home now!"

We all got up out of our seats to leave.

I have to ask someone to be my date... Great...

Well, this is gonna be a fucking train wreck...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Kaoru's POV~

Hikaru and I stood by the curb and waited for our limo.

Hikaru suddenly turned to me. "Kaoru?"

"Yes, Hikaru?"

"I wonder who Arabella is gonna ask to the Winter Ball."

I shrugged. "I dunno. Does it matter?"

"No... Not really. I just thought of someone she should ask... but probably won't, because even though I can tell she likes him a little more than as a friend, and he feels the same, the two keep denying their feelings for each other and it's honestly kind of annoying the crap outta me."

I raised my eyebrows. Arabella likes someone? Who?

"Since when did Arabella like someone?" I asked. "And who is it...?"

Not that I care or anything...

Hikaru sighed. "God, I just... Ugh..."

"What?"

"N-Nevermind..."

"Uh, okay..."

We stood there in silence for about five to ten seconds before Hikaru spoke up again. "Kaoru?"

"Yes, Hikaru?"

"... You should ask Arabella to the Winter Ball."

My breathing hitched in my throat. "W-What?"

"I said, you should ask Arabella to the Winter Ball." Hikaru said.

My eyes widened. I turned the slightest bit of pink. "Uh, why?"

Hikaru looked at me. "Just... because. You two look like you'd have fun together as each other's dates."

"... Are you jealous of Arabella or something, Hikaru? Is that what all this is about? There's no need to be jealous, really; you always come first, Hikaru." I said.

Hikaru shook his head. "No, that's not what I'm saying; I'm saying you two would make a good couple."

I turned pinker. "U-Uh... what??? What are you even saying right now??? No we wouldn't...! Arabella doesn't even LIKE me that way... and I don't like her that way either...!" I studdered. I mentally cursed at myself, scolding myself for not being able to keep my voice steady.

"Kaoru... Don't deny it. Please don't. Whenever she's in the room, your face always lights up. Whenever you two are near each other, you both blush as red as tomatos. Whenever the other's name is mentioned, you smile and blush some more. Tell me I'm not the only one that's noticed this!" Hikaru said.

"Hikaru... with all due respect... you're crazy. It's NOT like that with Arabella and me! You're getting the completely WRONG message! We're just friends, nothing more nothing less. Okay?" I said.

"Whatever. You can deny it all you want. The fact of the matter is I ship you two. Real hard. I have for awhile now. You two make each other stronger, if you get what I mean. Plus, when we first met her, I noticed you were staring at her like she was an angel that came down from heaven or something." Hikaru said. I turned deep red.

"See! You're blushing right now! You're living proof of the point I'm trying to make!" Hikaru said. I rolled my eyes and blushed some more.

Our limo arrived.

"God, finally! Come on, let's go home. I'm tired." I said, hoping to get Hikaru to either drop it or change the subject.

Hikaru sighed before we both got into the limo. "Kaoru, is this about our world? Are you still reluctant and afraid of letting people in? Well, there's no need to be afraid, Kaoru. We opened our eyes to how wonderful the world can really be. People can tell us apart. We're not just twins to them. And even if they couldn't tell us apart, they care about us anyway. So don't be afraid to let new people in. It's not like that anymore."

Wow... I'm surprised; that was so mature and kind of deep for Hikaru to say...

"It's not like that... Plus, if anyone's afraid of letting anyone in their world, it's Arabella. She seems to build up walls between herself and the world. Just like we used to. I think she might have some trust issues. In fact, she told me her childhood wasn't great; she kinda said it was messed up..." I said.

"Really? I never would have guessed Arabella had a dark past... She always seem so full of light, well, to me anyway." Hikaru said.

I looked out the limo window at the several passing houses as we neared our neighborhood. "Well, she told me so." I said.

"See? She's already trusting you with secrets." Hikaru said. I rolled my eyes again.

"Whatever, Hikaru. We don't think of each other that way, no matter how hard you ship us or whatever. We're just friends." I said.

Hikaru shrugged. "Whatever. If you don't ask her, she'll ask you. Then you two will have to go to the ball together. It's logic."

As if Arabella would ever ask me. She wouldn't.

... But, by the slim possibility that she might, how would I react?

Would I say yes?