My time to seethe had long since passed. Daire was here to stay and it appeared I could do nothing about it. He was everywhere and anywhere I didn't want him to be.

In my daily classes.

Waiting diligently in the lunchroom.

Scanning the halls in hopes of catching a glimpse of me on my way to the Host Club.

But there was sanctuary, as unlikely as it was, in my once-hated club room. Tamaki had kept his unspoken promise and Daire had been barred from entering while the hosts performed their daily duties to the lovely pompous rich girls with too much time on their hands. My safe haven was with those troublesome boys, and nothing could have made me happier.

However, much to my eternal displeasure (so named because of how often I fell victim to misfortune in Japan) I was not, in fact, currently with the Host Club.

Classroom 1-D. A normal class, filled with all those bumbling heirs and heiresses I'd become accustomed to while studying at Ouran (and more specifically, working at the Host Club); a teacher who cared more for the class average than overall morale; and those two teens who seem to always stand out for differing reasons.

I represented the "weird girl", always keeping to herself and refusing contact with others. This speciman seemed likely to congragate near the back of the room, only spoke when spoken too and more often than not, read in her spare time.

Then there was the "it" boy, whom everyone was in love with, boys and girls alike. Even when he captivated and swept the girls off their ever-unstable feet, there was no animosity from the males, either out of pure attraction or admiration for their romance "sempai". With a winning smile, a charming personality that could melt the most frozen of hearts, and an atmosphere of a superstar, they truly were the light in the pitch-black of our monotonous school days.

And then there was Daire, someone I thought didn't fulfill his role in the slightest.

If ever there were a contest pitting Daire and Tamaki against each other in terms of arrogance and self-flattery, I was certain the school itself would burst from the combined pressure their massive egos exerted on the architecture.

I proved this to myself as I watched, quite against my will, Daire flirt with the general female population.

He stood amongst the mob of fangirls, his smile shown in full-force and purely breathtaking. Just like Tamaki, he found the time and charm to treat every girl with equal love. Every smile was genuine, every laugh expressing how much enjoyment he took from the situation.

It made me sick, in all honesty.

I tried, oh I tried to focus on the work in front of me. No one else minded the school work, as it was lunch. I wouldn't even have been in the room had the cafeteria not been closed due to come confectionary mishap that now coated the floors. I told them high heat would only prove to be volatile. The chefs didn't much like my commentary and had forbade me from entering the kitchens as a result. And yet, had they listened to me, they wouldn't have been in that sticky mess.

In any case, my work ethic paled in comparison to my outright annoyance at having to listen to Daire show off his flashy self for a full period. High-pitched giggling invaded my thoughts, muddling up the equations I was attempting to work out in my head. Mental math had never quite been my forte but I was anxious to improve. I'd like to keep my number three spot in the grade, I thought wistfully, though I was yet again interrupted by another bought of meaningless laughter, this time inflicted upon me by Daire himself. My fingers clenched tight around my pencil. Had my grip been any stronger, the graphite would have snapped in half.

Why, oh why, pray tell, does the universe hate me to this extent? All I've wanted this past year was to put Daire completely out of my mind, move on and such. I thought I could accomplish that, in a place where he would never have contact with me; the only perk of my unwanted move to Japan. But no, the boy has to go and make himself famous. He has to tour in the very country I've taken refuge in. I never thought...I couldn't fight the mental sigh that breezed through me. He always had that asinine dream of making singing his career, but the odds were so stacked against him I never gave it any real thought. Not to say my dream is any more realistic...

"You look cute when you're thinking hard, Tigress."

My face flushed as my head snapped up in surprise. Daire's ocean-blue eyes crinkled in a smile, what felt like only breathless inches from my wide-as-dinner-plate orbs. Instinct played its part and before I realized I was even raising my hand, the pencil I'd held securely between my fingers flew for Daire's irritatingly attractive face. He dodged, of course, years of soccer and basketball giving him better-than-average reflexes. Better than my own, anyhow.

"Aw," he pouted, his eyes turning downcast, "that's no fun, Micah! I need this face for the fans!"

"Then go show it off for them!" I bit out carefully, wary of the attention I was accumulating from the restless crowd shifting behind Daire. They huddled between the desks, looking prepared to launch me out a winder if the need arose. The need equated to this: If I caused Daire's mood to deteriorate, those fans would retaliate.

Daire only smiled that heart-racing smile and slid onto my desk, upsetting my various notebooks and writing utensils. Aggravated to a level I was sure Daire didn't wish to see, I tossed my things into the messenger bag at my feet, unwilling for them to be touched by Daire's radiant aura. Unusually? Yes. Warrented? Perhaps.

"You're working too hard," he said, ruffling my hair in what he thought of as affection. I wasted no time in swatting his slender hand away; his pout returned. "Just like always," he sighed. "Back home you were like this too. Always saying school was more important than coming to see my band. Ya know those guys from the neighborhood are still with me? They're my back-up or whatever. You could see 'em, if ya want?"

"Why, exactly, would I wish to do so?" Keeping my tone curt was the only thing I could think to do that would get my message across. Either Daire was too dense or I was too scared from the glaring eyes of his fans to put any real emotion into my words. "I have nothing to do with you, or them, anymore, Wolfe."

"C'mon, give me another chance, Mikes." I suddenly found his face very close to mine, all the depth of the ocean staring at me, carrying with it all its natural intensity. My breathing went shallow and quick, that natural reaction Daire himself had kick-started so long ago. Half his mouth quirked up in a flirtatious smile. "Can you really forget everything about us? About me?"

"That, right there, is the problem. Nothing I do helps to forget you."

"It means I made an impression on you."

"It doesn't mean that impression left an enjoyable taste in my mouth."

"Enjoyable taste?"

I gulped, realizing I'd misspoke. A person like Daire would only--

"I see. Cause I bet I can leave one damn good taste behind this time round, Micah." I wrenched my head around at the last moment; his lips brushed harmlessly over my cheek. But even that simple touch set my heart going wild and I knew all too well how red I must have gone.

I was too embarrassed to even scold him for his lack of decorum.

"Mi-chan! I found you~!"

Oh dear Lord, my bunny-themed savior!

Honey, in all his chibi charm, smiled at me from the doorway. Usa-chan was held lovingly in his arms, that same complacent look that never left his face staring at my predicament with indifference. His sparkling brown honey-brown eyes provided all the courage I needed to gather my things in one quick motion and vanish towards the exit. I felt prying eyes on my back - one set so blue and beautiful I had to physically shake them off - as I followed Honey out the door and down the hall.

I was surprised he was alone, without Mori, but even more surprised to find him here.

"Honey, what are you doing in the first-year halls?" I asked.

He grinned and hugged Usa-chan tighter. "Tama-chan asked me to come and get you for the club, Mi-chan~! Kyo-chan needs you to help get ready for today."

"Ah. Alright then." It seemed early to meet for club activities but I welcomed anything that brought me farther away from Daire. I cinched my messenger bag a fraction tighter, wanting something to occupy my hands. "Thank you for coming. You kind of saved me back there."

"Is Dai-chan bothering you, Mi-chan?" Honey asked, looking up at me with those damn adorable eyes of his. I sighed softly; I really didn't want to trouble such an innocent gaze.

"No, no he's fine. I just don't happen to get along well with him, is all. He...." I bit my tongue; there was just no way I could force out the words that were lodged in my throat.

"We know Dai-chan hurt you, Mi-chan, but.... we also know you'll tell us when you want to, so whenever you're feeling down, just come find us! Usa-chan and I will share our sweets with you! Promise!"

I felt my lips curl up with satisfaction. I'd always longed for this type of acceptance though I never outwardly projected it. Being the loner may have suited me but it was never my desire to be an outcast. And the first person who'd actually showed me I wasn't destined to face cruelty from my peers was....

"Mi-chan~?" Honey tugged down on my arm so that his slender finger could reach my forehead for a poignant poke. "Are you alright? Your face is really pale."

Odd, considering my thoughts had been so shameful. I expected a blistering red, and instead became a chalky white. I touched gentle fingertips to my cheek; warmth blossomed from my fair skin, pusling beneath the soft touch. Allergies, maybe? It wasn't anything to fret over, especially after I'd decided I wasn't going to burden the hosts with my nonsensical troubles. I allowed a complacent smile to fill my face. "I'm fine, Honey," I promised sincerely. 

His head tilted, as did Usa-chan's. Doubt shown in his vibrant eyes, but it dimmed down into acceptance as I continued to smile pleasantly at him. He slipped his hand into mine and began tugging me down the empty halls; class was still in session for most of the school, after all.

"C'mon! Takashi'll want to see you for sure, Mi-chan!" he giggled cheerily.

My own head cocked in confusion. "Mori?" I repeated. "Why would Mori want to see me?"

Honey only giggled in response.

The Host Club was waiting for us. Mori greeted me at the door with his usual soft smile, which I returned with ease. Honey eagerly scaled Mori's massive shoulders to throw his arms around his fellow third-year's neck, then peeped his head over Mori's shoulder. "Kyo-chan is with Hika-chan and Kao-chan in the back," he informed me. I tossed my messenger bag into the shadows behind the heavy doors, raised a hand to say goodbye to Mori and Honey, then hurried to where the chibi had told me the others were.

I passed Tamaki (harrassing Haruhi yet again) and met his dreamy look with a smile. Another light dusting of red fell across his cheeks. I couldn't tell if it was because of the smile or because of the outfit Haruhi held in her hands. She held it up to herself disdainfully, that irritated look she only used for Tamaki settled firmly over her rather lovely features. He blushed a fiercer red, lost in some outrageous fantasy I doubted would ever come to fruition.

"I'm not wearing this," I heard Haruhi state plainly.

"It's not for you," Kaoru replied. I tensed, as he was suddenly at my back, hugging me from behind. "You're not a girl here, right, Haruhi? Besides, that dress is too small for even you. It's specially made for--"

"Please tell me you're joking." I'd finally caught a decent glimpse of the dress Haruhi carried, holding it as though it carried the plague. "I refuse. I absolutely refuse. I'd feel so... so... so wrong wearing something as awful--"

"Awfully beautiful?" Hikaru popped up beside his brother. My mouth twisted into a scowl. Two-against-one? What unfair odds. "I agree. It totally suits you too, Micah. And my dearest younger brother made it specially for you. That means you have to wear it!"

"On what grounds?" I demanded bitterly, trying to twist out of Kaoru's arms, to no avail. He was strong for such a delicate-looking frame. 

Hikaru leaned close enough for his lips to brush against my ear, and a chilling shiver raced through my body. "You're pretty dense, aren't you?" he asked teasingly.

That's it. I wriggled an arm free and pushed Hikaru's face away from mine, then freed myself from Kaoru's grip. Incidentally, I used a bit too much force, and ended up collapsing to the ground from my own stupidity. Not wanting to listen to the twins' mocking chuckles, I irritably snatched the dress from Haruhi and trudged off to the changing room in the back. Seeing Kyouya's smug smile only made my blood boil as I forced the curtain closed.

My uniform now lay forgotten on the floor. I stared at myself in the full-length mirror, teeth clenched to keep myself from screaming obscenities at the top of my very good lungs. My fingers curled snuggly into the white fabric that fell only to my knees. The white skirt was - ah - poofier than expected, making any curves curves of mine in that region practically unidentifiable. The bodice fit snuggly around my waist; it was the same with my pathetically petite chest. The sleeves stopped just below my shoulders, but curled into an almost flattering neckline that made me realize my neck was oddly appealing.

If vampires every indeed showed up, this made me certain I wouldn't survive.

Just as I heard footsteps approaching the curtain and twirled to face it, my skirt swishing around me, something white and fluffy drifted down to rest on my head. I pulled it off carefully, expecting something even more annoying than the dress, only to find a pretty knit cardigan. "You might as well put it on," Kaoru said impatiently from his place in front of me, shielded from view only by the obtuse red-velvet curtain. "Honey-sempai thought you might get cold later. Oh and these too." He slid a pair of white Mary-Janes over to my side. "I'm really excited to see how you like the dress," he added, in a voice as teasing and blush-inducing as his brother's. Then he was gone, returned to the awaiting hosts.

I slipped on the Mary-Janes before throwing aside the curtain and stepping out. I clutched the cardigan around me, my gaze glued to the ground. I hated this. The princess-theme was one thing; this, this outrage, was on a horrifically different level. "Don't you dare say a word, you bastards," I growled.

Something dropped onto my head, making me look up instictively. Hikaru's cheeky grin stared back at me. "Now, you wouldn't be a nurse without the hat, hm?" 

Dammit.

Yes. I was dressed as a nurse. And yes, I was aware of what a woman, who was not of the nursing profession, was implying while dressing as one. My time for seething had returned in abundance. 

After the general shock had passed through the hosts (of course, excluding Haruhi, Mori and Kyouya - the indifferent angels) and after I had slapped Tamaki awake from his fainting episode, the rest of the boys changed. The theme today was hospitals, and so each host sported some variation of a doctor's attire. Bleach-white coats, stethoscope around the neck - things of that nature. I tried to pay it no mind and left to pursue my baking duties.

As I was reaching for the mixer stowed under the sink, a sudden sensation of nausea and veritgo sent me reeling, enough to almost cause me to dirty the rear of my pristine-white dress on the club room floor. My head drooped; my vision swam. Three separate groups of hosts floated before my eyes. I forced my eyelids closed, rubbed furiously at them with the heels of my hands. My fingers curled into my hair as a pounding filled my skull.

And then, as quickly as it had come, it passed. I stood shakily, mixer in hand, and placed it gingerly on the counter. What had just happened?

Ignoring it seemed the worst option availabe, and yet,my silent promise rose up again in my thoughts. Don't make them worry. I swallowed hard, building up my resolve, and put up a cheeky smile when I noticed a number of hosts staring at me - some in worry, others in confusion. I placed my elbows on the counter, leaned forward playfully, and asked, "Want me to make some genuine hospital food for the guests? It'll give this place that authentic feel you're always looking for Tamaki."

Haruhi, the only one to understand the unstated joke, cracked a simple smile. The others, however, stared at me blankly. Save Kyouya, who must have understood every aspect of hospitals and only chose to find my attempt at humor pitiable. Screw you, too, King of Darkness!

"The food I had prepared for me at my last visit to the hospital was fantastic," Tamaki finally chimed in, face drawn softly with his gorgeous smile he spared no expense to show us daily. "That would be a brilliant idea, Micah! Daddy is so proud for his clever daughter!"

I shared an unimpressed glance with Haruhi. "Authentic hospital food?" I suggested.

"They do enjoy experiencing all the wonders of us commoners," she replied, a faintly sadistic gleam in her pretty brown eyes. 

"Tono," the twins cut in, "you're kinda an idiot right now."

"What?!"

"They're right," Kyouya put in, fixing his glasses back into place, despite no one else seeming to notice there were ever out of place. "The two of them are giving off a fairly obnoxious air, and for you to not see it only proves how naive you are."

"Mommy! Don't say such cruel things like that in front of our children!"

"No need to be concerned about us," I said, smiling innocently in Tamaki's direction. "I, for once, whole-heartedly agree with the bastard politician." Even Kyouya's amused smirk wasn't enough to dampen my mood, and I kept smiling on sweetly even as Tamaki gaped, his eyes brimming with glittering tears.

The twins laughed, drawing out a chuckle from even Haruhi and a giggling fit from Honey. Tamaki drifted over to his emo-corner. Periodically, pleasantly colored mushroom made an appearance, only to darken as they made contact with Tamaki's overwhelmingly depressed aura.

I covered my mouth lightly with one hand, making only a small effort to hide how much enjoyment I was getting from all this. Shaking my head, I turned away and went to grab the batter I'd prepared yesterday. A hand on my arm halted me and pulled me forward, though, and I blinked in confusion at Haruhi.

"Ah," she said, rummaging in her pants' pocket (she hadn't changed out of her uniform pants), "I forgot. I remembered you telling me something a few weeks ago and I--"

I held up my hand. "Sorry, Haruhi," I smiled. "I don't really need any more coupons for the grocer. I appreciate the thought and all but I just--"

She, in turn, cut me off with a smile. "It's not that," she assured me. She finally fished the desired object from her pocket and introduced it to me, in the form of a crumbled mess. As she set about unfolding and straightening the poor thing, she said, "You told me about your dream, right? I saw this in the hall this morning and I meant to show it to you." I bent closer to examine the resurrected flyer she laid flat on the counter top. I made out the words: Ouran Academy Presents.... Peter Pan! (a theatrical production)

My eyes widened. "Haruhi, you....?" 

She smiled again. "You should audition. But I suggest not letting the hosts find out."

"Wouldn't dream of it!" I chirped, taking the flyer into my own hands. I ran a finger over the worn edges, no longer crisp like they must have been when it was tacked to the bulletin board in the lobby. 

"Wouldn't dream of what, Mi-chan?" I blinked, having not noticed when Honey crowded in beside me. Mori gave him a hand in jumping onto the counter and there he sat, legs swinging carelessly, eyes smiling at me as his mouth mirrored the motions. 

"Eh..." A quick look at Haruhi confirmed it: She couldn't say no to Honey either. I sighed. "It's fine, I guess, if I tell you, Honey. There's this play the school is putting on..."

"Peter Pan?" The excitement in his voice softened my nerves and the hesitation vanished.

"Mm," I hummed in agreement.

"I'm auditioning for that too!" 

I would have smiled, giggled with as much enthusiasm as Honey, and probably blushed at the pleased look on Mori's face, but it was all for naught. With Honey's giggles echoing in my ears, the world blurred and the sensation of vertigo overtook me; it wasn't as unusual this time, seeing as how I felt myself falling in what seemed like slow-motion. 

Everything went dark before I hit the ground.